In Bali the Mentally Ill Are Treated Like Animals

Summary

The video exposes the harsh reality of mental illness in Bali, where untreated mental conditions have led to people being shackled or caged for years. Dr. Luh Ketut Suryani, a leading psychiatrist, works tirelessly to treat these individuals, combining Western medicine and traditional healing. Her efforts to rehabilitate patients, like Kaman, who lived in a cage for eight years, have shown remarkable success despite the lack of resources and government support. Dr. Suryani's unique approach offers hope for Bali’s mentally ill, but financial constraints and cultural beliefs remain obstacles.

Takeaways

• 😢 Many people in Balinese villages suffering from mental illnesses are kept in inhumane conditions like crude stocks, chains, and makeshift cages.
• 💔 Mental illness in Bali is often untreated due to a lack of financial resources and proper mental health care facilities.
• 🧠 Dr. Suriani, Bali’s leading psychiatrist, is one of the few medical professionals actively visiting these villages to provide help and treatment.
• 💊 Treatable mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia, are often neglected, with families resorting to shackling the patients due to fear or lack of knowledge.
• 🙏 Dr. Suriani incorporates traditional spiritual healing with Western medicine to gain the acceptance of the local Balinese population.
• 💉 Medication, particularly antipsychotic injections, has shown quick and effective results in improving patients' conditions, like Putu Antosha, who responded positively.
• 🤝 Families are often reluctant or fearful of modern treatments, but Dr. Suriani works tirelessly to persuade them to allow proper medical care.
• 🩹 Despite their extreme poverty, families sometimes resort to confining their loved ones as a last resort for their own safety and the community’s well-being.
• 🎓 Dr. Suriani's work also involves raising awareness and lobbying for government assistance, though funding remains insufficient for the vast needs.
• 😊 Some success stories show dramatic improvement in patients' lives, including those who were once shackled now being freed and reintegrated into society.

Q & A

Who is Dr. Suriani, and what is her role in the script?

Dr. Suriani is Bali's leading psychiatrist, actively visiting villages to treat mentally ill patients who have been left untreated or restrained in shackles due to a lack of resources and understanding. She uses a combination of Western medicine and traditional Balinese healing practices.

Why are some people in Bali being kept in shackles or crude stocks for long periods?

Many mentally ill individuals in Bali are shackled due to the lack of access to medical treatment, financial constraints, and a cultural belief in supernatural causes for mental illness. Families often feel it's their only option to prevent harm to the individual or others.

What is Dr. Suriani’s approach to treating mental illness in Bali?

Dr. Suriani combines Western psychiatric treatments, such as antipsychotic medication, with traditional Balinese spiritual purification rituals. She believes that using both approaches is necessary for the local population to accept and benefit from the treatment.

What challenges does Dr. Suriani face in trying to treat her patients?

Dr. Suriani faces several challenges, including lack of government funding, family resistance to treatment, cultural beliefs in supernatural causes of mental illness, and the need to combine traditional and modern practices to make the treatment acceptable to the local population.

How does the local culture in Bali influence the treatment of mental illness?

The local culture in Bali often attributes mental illness to supernatural causes, which leads people to seek help from spiritual healers rather than medical professionals. This cultural belief makes it challenging for doctors like Dr. Suriani to introduce Western psychiatric treatments.

What role do spiritual healers play in the treatment of mental illness in Bali?

Spiritual healers in Bali perform purification rituals, which are believed to free patients from spiritual burdens. These ceremonies are often seen as complementary to Western treatments like medication, especially in cases where mental illness is believed to have supernatural origins.

What was the significance of the case involving 'Kamma,' who lived in a cage for eight years?

Kamma’s case highlights the extreme conditions faced by some mentally ill individuals in Bali. His father built a cage to confine him for eight years due to lack of access to proper medical treatment. After receiving treatment from Dr. Suriani, Kamma has shown significant improvement and even got married.

How does Dr. Suriani fund the treatment of her patients?

Dr. Suriani often pays for her patients’ medications out of her own pocket, relying on donations from international sources like Australia and Germany to fund the treatment of those who cannot afford it.

Why are some families resistant to the treatment offered by Dr. Suriani?

Many families are initially resistant due to a combination of distrust in Western medicine, financial challenges, and a belief in spiritual causes for mental illness. They often fear that the treatment might not work or could worsen the situation.

What impact has Dr. Suriani’s work had on mental health in Bali?

Dr. Suriani’s work has significantly improved the lives of many mentally ill individuals, freeing them from shackles and providing them with medical treatment. Her efforts have also raised awareness about mental health issues in Bali, though the challenge of securing government support and changing cultural perceptions remains.