Economic crisis blamed for rise in depression and mental illness
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.