After being broadcast by foreign television (e.g SBS Australia, Arte +7 French/Germany) the mental health situation in Bali, attention from national television finally came aside. It’s Trans 7 as the pioneer to documented the work of samaritan team from Suryani Institute for Mental Health. “I believed God sent your team to Bali to help us”, said Professor Suryani during her interview at her lovely home in Denpasar (11/5). The crew was shocked and almost unbelieved that mentally ill Balinese held like animals in chains, cages and even medieval stocks – in this day and age.
After SBS broadcasted the situation last year, Suryani Institute finally received 1 billion rupiah, or about $120,000 AUD, from Bali’s governor – enough to treat over 300 patients for one year. But, then, in December, he slashed that budget by 90% without consulting the institute, apparently after listening to jealous critics of their program. “I felt ashamed that I wasn’t trusted. In the end, I wondered whether I shouldn’t just stop. That would mean that I’d stop giving out the medication and I would tell the volunteers to tell the village leader, the local authorities, the health authorities and the doctors that the therapy for these patients has been stopped”, said Suryani in tears. There are thousands more that will never get the chance to feel a normal life. “We will do our best to make a national awareness about this condition and hope it will chance the governor’s mind”, promise Yogie as one of the Trans 7 crew after the interview.
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