Around 25 years ago, I met the Balinese anthropologist and psychiatrist, Dr. Luh Ketut Suryani. She went on to establish the Suryani Institute for Mental Health in 2005, because, she said, “A large number of mentally ill people in Bali are essentially abandoned, permanently kept under restrains, chained or in makeshift cages by their families, or community (pasung).”
The NY Times “Saturday Profile for October 21, 2016” is devoted to Nova Riyanti Yusuf’s life and work. Dr. Nova’s passions and experiences run parallel to Suryani’s.
Indonesia spends less than 1 percent of its total health budget to mental health, uncommonly low even compared with other lower middle-income countries. It has only about 700 trained psychiatrists, roughly one for every 350,000 citizens.
Drs. Nova and Suryani have devoted their lives to improving the care and living conditions for Indonesia’s mentally ill. Pause for a moment to honor these two visionary women.
Here is a German language You Tube on "Bali's Dark Side." (Unfortunately, I can't find a copy with English subtitles, but the film can be viewed and appreciated even with the German narration.)