Economic crisis blamed for rise in depression and mental illness<\/p>\n
Yuli Tri Suwarni, Bandung<\/p>\n
The number of people suffering from psychiatric ailments has been
\non the rise over the past few years in the West Java capital of
\nBandung, with much of the increase being attributed to the
\neconomic hardship that has persisted since the economic crisis
\nhit Indonesia in 1997.<\/p>\n
Dr. Machmud, the director of the Bandung Psychiatric Hospital,
\nthe only hospital for mentally ill patients in Bandung, said that
\nthe hospital had admitted more than 1,000 mentally ill patients
\neach month since January.<\/p>\n
In April alone, the hospital registered 1,184 patients
\nsuffering from both mild mental disorders such as depression and
\ndistress and severe disorders like schizophrenia and paranoia.<\/p>\n
He added that there had been a rising trend in the number of
\nmentally ill patients since 2001.<\/p>\n
In 2001, at least 9,936 patients were treated at the hospital.
\nThis figure increased by nearly 30 percent over two years to
\n12,473 patients in 2003.<\/p>\n
\"The main trigger right now is economic hardship. After the
\neconomic crisis, many companies were shut down so that a lot of
\npeople lost their jobs. Losing one's job has been the prime cause
\nof mental depression,\" he said.<\/p>\n
After losing their jobs, at first people may still be able to
\nhang on after being deprived of their livelihoods. Gradually,
\nhowever, they may not be able to stand the pressure and finally
\nbecome stressed-out and depressed. Many even attempt suicide,
\nsaid Machmud recently.<\/p>\n
Besides economic problems, he said, the second major problem
\nwas domestic disputes between partners and parent-child
\nconflicts.<\/p>\n
He said that more than 50 percent of the psychiatric patients
\nin the hospital came from the lower income brackets. Their
\nmedical expenses were covered by the government to the tune of
\nmore than Rp 1.2 billion (US$140,000) per year.<\/p>\n
Machmud disclosed that the increase in the number of people
\nsuffering from psychiatric disorders would reduce productivity
\nlevels and the life expectancies of people.<\/p>\n
\"They are inclined to blame others or blame themselves for
\neverything,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He added that the those with psychiatric disorders could also
\nadversely affect people with healthy minds. Based on studies, the
\nlife expectancy of a person (a healthy person) was influenced by
\nhis surroundings (40 percent), his own behavior (35 percent),
\naccess to healthcare (20 percent) and hereditary factors (5
\npercent).<\/p>\n
\"If a healthy person lives with another person who is, for
\nexample, depressed and always puts the blame on others, he or she
\nwill likely start to behave like the first person does.
\nEspecially if he or she does not have a strong character,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
According to Dr. Machmud, psychiatric problems could not be
\nsolved simply by going to the doctor. Other factors, especially
\nan improvement in the economy, would contribute significantly and
\ngive more hope to people suffering from depression.<\/p>",
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