Crisis hits mental health

ACEH: About 40 percent of 156 patients in the central mental hospital in Banda Aceh are there as a result of the economic crisis, the hospital director said.

Antara quoted Saiful Anwar as saying that most of his patients were facing psycho-social pressures caused by the soaring price of basic needs, unemployment and political tension.

"Patients with mental disorders are usually from poor families with a low educational background," the hospital's director said.

Anwar said that according to World Health Organization estimates, 170,000 of the province's 3.9 million population were likely to be suffering from some form of light mental disorder, including anxiety and depression.

In response to the possible impact of the nine-year military operation during which widespread atrocities were committed, he said details of the number of people affected were not available. However, he said experts had encountered a number of such cases.

He recounted one case of his in which he attributed the paranoia suffered by his patient to the military campaign waged against separatist activities in the province. The campaign was brought to an end in August.

"The military operation has caused depression, anxiety, fear and suspicion of others. These symptoms could lead to serious mental disorder," he said. (01)