Economic crisis blamed for rise in depression and mental illness

Yuli Tri Suwarni, Bandung

The number of people suffering from psychiatric ailments has been on the rise over the past few years in the West Java capital of Bandung, with much of the increase being attributed to the economic hardship that has persisted since the economic crisis hit Indonesia in 1997.

Dr. Machmud, the director of the Bandung Psychiatric Hospital, the only hospital for mentally ill patients in Bandung, said that the hospital had admitted more than 1,000 mentally ill patients each month since January.

In April alone, the hospital registered 1,184 patients suffering from both mild mental disorders such as depression and distress and severe disorders like schizophrenia and paranoia.

He added that there had been a rising trend in the number of mentally ill patients since 2001.

In 2001, at least 9,936 patients were treated at the hospital. This figure increased by nearly 30 percent over two years to 12,473 patients in 2003.

"The main trigger right now is economic hardship. After the economic crisis, many companies were shut down so that a lot of people lost their jobs. Losing one's job has been the prime cause of mental depression," he said.

After losing their jobs, at first people may still be able to hang on after being deprived of their livelihoods. Gradually, however, they may not be able to stand the pressure and finally become stressed-out and depressed. Many even attempt suicide, said Machmud recently.

Besides economic problems, he said, the second major problem was domestic disputes between partners and parent-child conflicts.

He said that more than 50 percent of the psychiatric patients in the hospital came from the lower income brackets. Their medical expenses were covered by the government to the tune of more than Rp 1.2 billion (US$140,000) per year.

Machmud disclosed that the increase in the number of people suffering from psychiatric disorders would reduce productivity levels and the life expectancies of people.

"They are inclined to blame others or blame themselves for everything," he said.

He added that the those with psychiatric disorders could also adversely affect people with healthy minds. Based on studies, the life expectancy of a person (a healthy person) was influenced by his surroundings (40 percent), his own behavior (35 percent), access to healthcare (20 percent) and hereditary factors (5 percent).

"If a healthy person lives with another person who is, for example, depressed and always puts the blame on others, he or she will likely start to behave like the first person does. Especially if he or she does not have a strong character," he said.

According to Dr. Machmud, psychiatric problems could not be solved simply by going to the doctor. Other factors, especially an improvement in the economy, would contribute significantly and give more hope to people suffering from depression.