Schizophrenia in Indonesia
Mental health in Indonesia has a large stigma around it. There is an extreme lack of care and services provided for those with these conditions. In 2013 it was estimated that every 2 out of 1,000 Indonesians have schizophrenia (Schonhardt, 2011). This estimate is likely low due to the lack of reporting of the condition. For some, they believe that there is someone behind these voices. They think of the voices as gifts. Many people try to “cure” their schizophrenia by religious or traditional treatments, which has yet to be successful (“A life with schizophrenia in Indonesia”, n.d.). Others go unreported because their families chose to handle the situation by chaining them up.
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An example of this type of situation is Nengah. She has schizophrenia and after a violent outburst she was caged by her family, naked for nearly a decade. It wasn’t until a psychiatrist came to her village that she was released (“Indonesia: treating mental health with shakles”, 2016). She is not the only person living in restraints. It is estimated that there are still at least 30,000 people with schizophrenia in restraints (“Schizophrenia in Indonesia, n.d.). Being chained up at home is very common along with being sent to an institution where they are also chained and abused. Patients face physical and sexual violence as well as involuntary electroshock therapy, seclusion, restraint and forced contraception at these places (“Pasung is the Indonesian practice of shackling and imprisoning mentally ill, 2016).
Indonesia suffers from a lack of mental health facilities and workers. For the 240 million people in the country, there is less than 600 psychiatrists. They are usually located in urban areas leaving those in small rural areas untreated. With the lack of workers with mental health education those suffering are not being treated humanely (Group, 2016). The government has not done much to help those with mental illnesses because they have placed more focus on meeting its Millennium Development Goals. There has been a law passed in 2014 called Law 18. This law affirms the right of every Indonesian to receive treatment for mental health problems. The treatment must be fair, humane and free of discrimination (“How we care: schizophrenia, n.d.). Although the law is in place many people are too far away or cannot afford the care they need. The result of this can be rejection of care because of the inability to pay a provider.
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The KPSI is an organization started to stand up for those with schizophrenia (KPSI, 2016). The goal of the group is to change the stigma around schizophrenia. They want to help those suffering spread the message that they aren’t crazy or cursed. Those with schizophrenia continue to feel like outsiders and neglected. KPSI hopes to combat these issues while helping those suffering get help.
