July 2011 – Suryani Institute for Mental Health

July 25, 2011August 13, 2011

Coffee Discussion with Under Secretary for Democracy and Global Affairs

The United States of America (USA) Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs oversees and coordinates U.S. foreign relations on a variety of human security issues across the globe — democracy, human rights, population, refugees, trafficking in persons, rule of law, counternarcotics, crisis prevention and response, and water security. During her visit to Bali with the State Secretary, Hillary Clinton, US Secretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs Maria Otero met with several Balinese icons, including respected spiritualist Professor Luh Ketut Suryani. The group talked about problems faced by women, including those related to health, economy and environment.

“I am really pleased to hear your explanations about what you have been doing all this time. I think what you’ve been doing is really important,” Otero said Sunday at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, Bali, as she opened the coffee discussion. She added that she was interested in Suryani’s explanation regarding mental health issues in Bali. Professor Suryani, explained that many Balinese suffered chronic mental health problems, especially after several terrorist bombings in the province.

Continue reading “Coffee Discussion with Under Secretary for Democracy and Global Affairs”

July 23, 2011August 13, 2011

The University of Southern California is developing a partnership with Suryani Institute for Mental Health

The University of Southern California (USC) is one of the world’s leading private research universities. An anchor institution in Los Angeles, a global center for arts, technology and international trade, USC enrolls more international students than any other U.S. university and offers extensive opportunities for internships and study abroad. With a strong tradition of integrating liberal and professional education, USC fosters a vibrant culture of public service and encourages students to cross academic as well as geographic boundaries in their pursuit of knowledge. For those reason, a partnership to Suryani Institute for understanding culture and mental health in Bali is a building model for them to pursuit the knowledge.

“Years ago, I traveled to Bali and studied Balinese perceptions of child abuse and parental methods of discipline. I have deep respect for the work of Prof Dr Luh Ketut Suryani writings through her books and journal articles along with the commitment that she has for the mental health issues of the Balinese’ said Rafael C. Angulo as the Coordinator of Family and Children Concentration & Public Child Welfare Subconcentration at School of Social Work of the USC during his visit to see the reality of Bali’s hidden mental health with Professor Luh Ketut Suryani as the leading psychiatrist that regularly visit the patients in community.

Continue reading “The University of Southern California is developing a partnership with Suryani Institute for Mental Health”

July 9, 2011July 14, 2011

Global Post helps bringing some light into the darkness of Bali’s Mental Health

Global Post an on-line news portal in Boston, has a mission to provide original international reporting rooted in integrity, accuracy, independence and powerful storytelling that informs, entertains and fills the void created by diminished foreign coverage by American media. For that reason Sara Schonhardt from Global Post feels the need to write the story about the impact the institute is having on an issue that deserves a lot of attention. About 300 psychotic people still tied up in chains with some of them in cages hidden in the glamor tourism of the paradise island named Bali. The mentally ill are locked up by their own families and forced to eat, sleep and defecate in the same spot while their illness goes untreated in the Bali’s government ignorance of the problems.

“Encouraging thoughts and words of well meaning people are maybe nice, but remain superficial and empty without concrete action”, said Sara during her visit to the community with Professor Luh Ketut Suryani and Dr Cokorda Bagus Jaya Lesmana as the only psychiatrists that willing to do community mental health work in the community. The visit was follow by Dr Mel Borins, a family physician, Associate Professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Toronto and on active staff at St. Joseph’s Health Center.

Continue reading “Global Post helps bringing some light into the darkness of Bali’s Mental Health”