Russian man found hanged in Phuket

A Russian man was found hanged in his rented room in Phuket yesterday. The man, 36 year old Roman Melnik, was found hanged by a strap attached to the balcony door behind his room in Rawai, The Phuket Express reported.

Police said Melnik is believed to have died some 12 hours before his body was found. Chalong Police Captain Charat Lempan said police found no signs of struggle or theft of any property.

Melnik’s wife, Ukrainian national Victoria Sokoluk, told police that Melnik had suffered from bipolar disorder for a long time. She said he had also been suffering from insomnia, not sleeping for about a week.

Captain Charat said Melnik’s body was taken to Vachira Phuket Hospital to confirm the cause of death so that it can be returned to his family.

There are three types of bipolar disorder, all three of which involve extreme changes in mood.

Bipolar I disorder is defined by manic episodes that last at least seven days (most of the day, nearly every day) or by manic symptoms that are so severe that the person needs immediate hospital care. The condition usually includes depressive episodes as well, which typically last about two weeks.

Bipolar II disorder is defined by a pattern of depressive episodes and hypomanic episodes. The episodes are less severe than the manic episodes in bipolar I disorder.

Cyclothymic disorder is defined by recurrent hypomanic and depressive symptoms that are not intense enough or do not last long enough to qualify as hypomanic or depressive episodes.

If you or anyone you know is in emotional distress, please contact the Samaritans of Thailand 24-hour hotline: 02 713 6791 (English), 02 713 6793 (Thai), or the Thai Mental Health Hotline at 1323 (Thai). Please also contact your friends or relatives at this time if you have feelings of loneliness, stress, or depression. Seek help.