LEARNING FROM THE THAI COACH IN A CAVE

THE Thai rescue of 12 boys and their football coach from a flooded cave is an incredible tale that’s captivated us all.

Ekapol Chanthawong, the 25-yearold coach of the Wild Boars team, has faced harsh criticism from some for leading the boys into the cave. But to many Thais — not least the parents — Chanthawong is no less a hero than the rescuers.

Imagine how the boys must have felt for nine long days, trapped in pitch black darkness, forced to lick moisture off rocky walls, increasingly hungry and weak. The sense of claustrophobia and terror must have been overwhelming.

The mental torment would have been a far greater challenge for them than the physical deprivations. Indeed, it is an individual’s mental resilience that is a bigger factor than their physical health in determining how they will fare in a perilous situation.

This is where coach Chanthawong came into his own. By a fortuitous twist of fate, he’d spent a decade as a Buddhist monk and practised meditation regularly for up to an hour a day. His aunt has told journalists that he taught the technique to the boys to help them stay focused, calm and positive.

Meditation is, basically, mindfulness, which has become very fashionable of late. It involves the psychological process of learning to focus attention on the present moment and shutting out all the background chatter in the brain.

I have reservations about mindfulness being the panacea that some advocates would have us believe. But there is no doubt that, along with other types of psychotherapy such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), it can be hugely beneficial for people in distress or difficulty.

In a threatening environment, that monk turned football coach has shown just how valuable it can be.

But he also teaches us a lesson about the importance of being prepared — and this, I believe, is particularly relevant for anyone who has a history of depression, anxiety or other mental health issue.

I often see patients who are in a crisis. In addition to the immediate support we give, they are usually put on a waiting list for psychotherapy. Yet so often, by the time their name comes up, they are feeling better. ‘Oh, don’t worry,’ they tell me. ‘I’m OK now — I don’t need it’.

I always say: ‘Actually, this is precisely the time you should be having psychotherapy.’ The best time to learn the techniques of mindfulness, CBT etc is not when you’re in the middle of a crisis, but when you feel relatively well. That’s when you can really concentrate and hone the skill. So if you’re prone to stress, low mood or anxiety, don’t wait until things get bad. Make sure you have a good grasp of CBT or mindfulness now, and practise it even when you’re feeling good.

Chanthawong could never have imagined the desperate situation he and a dozen youngsters would find themselves in. But he had the psychological tools he needed and was able to bring calm to a terrifying experience. I think he’s more than vindicated himself.