THAILAND, OCTOBER 26, 2016 Roengkhetkan Saharat was a Thai tattoo artist and entrepreneur who became famous in 2016 when he committed suicide at the age of 22 during a Facebook Live broadcast.
Roengkhetkan Saharat
Roengkhetkan was addicted to gambling and had large debts, with associated depression. On the day of his death, he asked his mother for money to pay part of his debt, but she refused. That was probably the trigger.
He shared a Facebook status before the live broadcast began that said something like “We will meet in the afterlife sometime”. He then started streaming and cried heavily, holding a gun while doing so, and then shot himself in the head.
In Thailand, as a strongly Buddhist country, the incident has generated a lot of attention and sparked a debate on gambling and suicide prevention.
If you’re thinking about suicide, please stop and recognize that your pain is not permanent, but this step would be. It may feel like there’s no other way, but there is hope, even if it’s hard to see right now. Your feelings are temporary, and with help, they can pass.
Talking about what you're going through might feel difficult, but it’s the first step toward healing. Don’t turn away from the people who want to support you. Life can offer more than what you're feeling right now, and the pain doesn't have to last forever. You deserve help, and it’s available.
If you need immediate help, please contact a helpline.
