Suryani Institute Gelar Seminar Terakhir 2009

Setelah hampir sepanjang tahun menggelar Seminar Kesehatan Mental 2009, akhirnya di bulan Desember ini menjadi seminar pamungkas rangkaian Seminar Kesehatan Mental yang setiap bulannya di gelar di Wantilan DPRD Bali. Banyaknya pengaruh dari luar di antaranya kemajuan teknologi, globalisasi informasi, dan budaya asing dan domestik membuat masyarakat meninggalkan rumahnya untuk mencari jawaban atas perubahan yang cepat dan iming-iming kedamaian dalam kehidupan ini. Untuk memberikan penyadaran kepada masyarakat akan pentingnya kedamaian di dalam rumah, maka Suryani Institute for Mental Health (SIMH) bekerja sama dengan Perhimpunan Dokter Spesialis Kedokteran Jiwa (PDSKJI) Bali, Yayasan Wreda Sejahtera (YWS) Bali, Ikatan Guru TK Indonesia (IGTKI) Bali, Forum Relawan Bali Mandara (FORBARA) dan RRI Denpasar mengadakan Seminar Rumah sebagai Sumber Inspirasi dan Kedamaian sebagai rangkaian dari Seminar Kesehatan Mental 2009 pada Sabtu (19/12), pukul 09.00-12.00 wita, bertempat di Wantilan DPRD Bali, Renon.

dsc_9861

“Kami berharap apa yang telah kami berikan selama satu tahun ini bisa memberikan informasi mengenai kesehatan mental dan menambah kepedulian masyarakat akan hal tersebut”, ungkap Profesor Suryani di akhir acara. Sementara itu dr Cokorda Bagus menyatakan meskipun kecewa dengan apresiasi yang diberikan oleh pemerintah terhadap penanganan kesehatan mental, namun tidak menyurutkan niatnya selaku ketua panitia untuk menggelar seminar terakhir. “Kami dicap hanya mengajar nyanyi-nyanyi dan bergembira saja untuk kesehatan mental padahal setiap minggu kami harus ke lapangan dan relawan kami bekerja siang malam untuk kesembuhan para pasien, tapi rupanya Bapak Mangku Pastika selaku gubernur Bali lebih senang mendengar kata orang daripada melihat apa yang telah kami kerjakan”, jelas dr Cokorda Bagus dengan nada sesal.

Bali’s Governor Cut the Support to Mental Health

Although the work of a small but dedicated team by Professor Luh Ketut Suryani has gain a recognition from outside Bali, but the Governor of Bali decided to cut the budget of mental health for the year 2010 due to unpleasant news about Suryani’s work from irresponsible people. The statement of sorry came out from Mangku Pastika, after Suryani showed the work that been showed by the Special Broadcasting Service (SBS), Australia and won an award as the best story of the year 2009 by the United Nation Australia. “I have to cut your budget because some people said that you only teach people singing and having fun in the parlement house without do any treatment, I wish I could see this video earlier”, explain the governor in the special meeting with Suryani and her team (16/12).

dsc_9815

“I am just worried that if there’s no more money to support the medication, most of the patients that has been normal will relaps in the matter of time”, said Suryani sadly. With this situation, there  will be little chance that more people can get access to the treatment and more people have to suffer with mental disorder in the island that washed with tourist dollars.

Bali’s Shame wins United Nations Media Peace Awards

In its 25th year, Dateline Video Journalist David O’Shea (pictured) won the Current Affairs Award for his story “Bali Shame”, an investigation into the treatment of psychiatric patients in Bali that done by small and dedicated team lead by Professor Luh Ketut Suryani.  The national Media Peace Awards program was established in 1979 to promote understanding and awareness in our society by recognising the media’s efforts in stimulating public debate about humanitarian and social justice issues. 

dsc_8895-edit

Director of News and Current Affairs, Paul Cutler, said, “SBS has continued to prove that we are not afraid to tell stories from around the world that other networks often disregard. Our news gives viewers an insight into important global issues and we are proud of the many accolades our journalists have received.”

media-peace

Visiting The SBS Headquarter

After being broadcast by Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) Australia, the attention of mental health problems related to human degradation been wide spread. The Suryani Institute as the leading organization in Bali dealing with the problem had the chance to visit the headquarter and the team work in Sydney, Australia (11/24). Accompany by David O’Shea as the journalist that capture the tragic condition in the island that washed with tourists dollar but has no money to deal with the mental health issues, Professor Suryani and Dr Lesmana had the chance to meet and greet the team.

dsc_8201 Continue reading “Visiting The SBS Headquarter”