Many suffer from mental illness

Many suffer from mental illness

JAKARTA (JP): Out of 1,000 Indonesians 80 are mentally ill, according to Dr. Dadang Hawari, chairman of the Association of Indonesian Psychiatrists.

Speaking in Bandung recently he also predicted that within the next 25 years that figure would rise by 400 percent.

He said that the causes of the upward trend are the increasing economic burdens on the people and the negative impact of a rapid shift from an agrarian society to an industrial one.

"The more modern a society is, the more reasons there are for psycho-social stress to emerge, and this trend will also have a negative impact on the people's health," Dadang said.

He added that one out of every 1,000 Indonesians is suffering from schizophrenia and that the figure would increase by 200 percent during the next 25 years.

Dadang said that, of the people suffering from schizophrenia, only 10 percent had been hospitalized.

"The rest seek non-medical treatment from paranormal or traditional healers," he said.

According to Dadang, the most effective way to heal mental illness is through a religious approach.

"The approach can prevent, protect, and heal people from various problems, including psychological troubles."

Practicing a religion is an aspect of mental health that cannot be ignored, Dadang said.

In the future the role of religion would be pivotal in the effort to improve public health and quality of life, he said.

Dadang said Indonesia was still lacking in psychiatrists. There were only 380 psychiatrists for 190 million people, he said. (tis)