Take Action On Bali's Mental Health Care Crisis

Target:

World Health Organization

Sponsored by:

Thousands of Balinese people suffer from severe untreated mental illnesses. Their names, their lives, are not on record. But go, go to the villages and you will find them. Mentally ill children and adults locked in dark unlit rooms or living in cages. This is the way they live out their lives year after lonely year, subject to taunts and every human rights abuse imaginable. Some who are manacled will eventually need their limbs amputated. Many desperate families who have no concept of treatment hope that they will die, die soon.
A four minute video produced by the Suryani Institute for Mental Health is damning evidence that Bali's mental health system is in crisis. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-NWiCViXc0
However the Indonesian government denies there is a serious problem and continues to ignore the pleas of Balinese and foreign psychiatrists.
Given access to good quality mental health care, thousands of lives will be completely transformed. We implore all who read these words to offer your protection to the people of Bali by signing this petition

* Read more about the mental health crisis in Indonesia and why we must not be silent http://asiadana.com/index.php?showforum=197

Letter to be presented to the World Health Organization from all petition signatories:
Dear Decision Makers,
The mentally ill in Bali continue to be ignored, mistreated and abused. It has been estimated that over 7,000 people in Bali suffer from serious chronic mental illnesses, the majority of whom will never receive any treatment. It is likely that the true numbers will be much higher.

The Indonesian Government does not acknowledge the actual numbers of mentally ill people nor does it provide sufficient or suitable services. The island's only hospital for the mentally ill has the capacity for 340 patients, however very limited places are available to the poor.

We the undersigned ask that the World Health Organisation honour its commitment to assist in providing health care to those in need. We ask that the World Health Organisation compel the Indonesian Government to provide appropriate care for the mentally ill. We ask that the World Health Organisation speak for those who do not have a voice.

Thank you for taking the time to read this letter

Dear Decision Makers,
The mentally ill in Bali continue to be ignored, mistreated and abused. It has been estimated that over 7,000 people in Bali suffer from serious chronic mental illnesses, the majority of whom will never receive any treatment. It is likely that the true numbers will be much higher.

The Indonesian Government does not acknowledge the actual numbers of mentally ill people nor does it provide sufficient or suitable services. The island's only hospital for the mentally ill has the capacity for 340 patients, however very limited places are available to the poor.

We the undersigned ask that the World Health Organisation honour its commitment to assist in providing health care to those in need. We ask that the World Health Organisation compel the Indonesian Government to provide appropriate care for the mentally ill. We ask that the World Health Organisation speak for those who do not have a voice.

Thank you for taking the time to read this letter

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goal: 40,000

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We signed the "Take Action On Bali's Mental Health Care Crisis" petition!

# 203:

10:34 pm PST, Nov 12, Aida Mustafa, Malaysia
Aida Mustafa

# 202:

10:26 pm PST, Nov 9, Name not displayed, Australia

# 201:

5:05 pm PST, Nov 8, Name not displayed, Australia
This barbaric treatment of humans must stop!! We no longer live in the dark ages. Hopefull these people will see light soon.....

# 200:

4:22 am PDT, Oct 14, Rich Norris, Utah
A vast many of us, with mental disabilities and such; unfortunately, we've been banefully misunderstood... Trace back throughout history, figures such being the great, Einstien, Abraham Lincoln, and infinitely on (Beethoven even); what if we'd locked these souls up back then, or medicated them??? Where would we be as a world, and our own countries without these figures, as well as these figures across the globe throughout history! We want to be loved, understood, appreciated, we want to love others, do our best, yet this disease of mental depression is as if we're trapped in a spiders web with nowhere to go at times, sometimes always... We need to pick out positives in life, think that maybe mental illness is more than meets the eye! Maybe we need to or rather we absolutely must, climb up lifes ladders and mazes, while helping our fellow men along the way, even pulling them ahaid of us if neccesarry? Must we suffer more when religion all over, says: "Judge Not Ye Be Not Judged..." Yet!!! People have judged you, me and all of us disabled in this fashion, being mentally (Severely Depressed My Case) ill... Looking at us as if we're trash or non existent, not worthy of rightful human interaction, they all want to climb above us and kick us to the bottom as they want to forget us! It feels banefully, abhorrent, sickening, and a violation upon you, us and me, as we again want love, success, aspirations just as well and prolifically as do all of the populations across the globe; is this too difficult to understand? Kindness, understanding, patience, and again kindness, sympathy, empathy if you can and a willing hand with no strings attached, love, compassion and optimism without judgement passed; can we all love, get along and appreciate one another... Take care, all best, keep on keeping on and blessings everlasting friends... Much Peace, Rich Norris

# 199:

4:52 pm PDT, Oct 4, Name not displayed, Australia

# 198:

4:39 am PDT, Sep 28, Elizabeth Molloy, United Kingdom
All people should be treated with respect. As a sufferer from mental ill-health myself I know how hard it is to deal with WITHOUT this dreadful sort of treatment. It should NEVER be tolerated!

# 197:

8:08 pm PDT, Sep 24, Tracy Holmes, Mississippi
This is horrible that people are still suffering like this in 2009.

# 196:

10:01 am PDT, Sep 22, Christine Manning, Finland
This torture of suffering people must be stopped immediately!

# 195:

12:17 am PDT, Sep 16, Universa Ruggiero, Australia

# 194:

3:49 pm PDT, Sep 7, Name not displayed, Australia
It is really depressing to see that noone cares about these people. Everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect.

# 193:

8:56 pm PDT, Aug 30, Megan Dare, Australia
I have suffered from mental health issues (depression) and was cured with basic medical help. I cannot bear to imagine what it is like to suffer a debilitating mental illness and be ostracised or ignored (at best).

# 192:

3:15 pm PDT, Aug 26, Montgomery R, Australia
Please help these people of Bali.

# 191:

2:10 am PDT, Aug 17, Name not displayed, Australia
No human being should be treated like that. We are all daughters and sons and family members of somebody who has a heart. Speak up...

# 190:

4:12 pm PDT, Aug 15, Name not displayed, Norway

# 189:

10:21 pm PDT, Aug 12, Raelene Baker, Australia

# 188:

5:48 am PDT, Aug 12, Laurel Parsons, Australia

# 187:

9:47 pm PDT, Aug 10, Natasha Ryan, Australia
As a concerned Australian with relatives who have mental illness in my own family I truly urge the poers that be in Bali, and throughout Indonesia, where I have lived in years past, to take positive action to fix this situation of health neglect. I have alays had great faith in the potential greatness of Indonesia and have respect for the integrity of its peoples. Thankyou for listening top our concerns.

# 186:

7:49 pm PDT, Aug 10, Gabriel De La Iglesia, Florida

# 185:

4:27 am PDT, Aug 10, Name not displayed, Australia

# 184:

7:13 pm PDT, Aug 9, Name not displayed, Australia

# 183:

4:32 pm PDT, Aug 8, Michelle Tomlinson, Australia

# 182:

3:03 am PDT, Aug 8, Name not displayed, Australia

# 181:

6:05 am PDT, Aug 7, Julie Quicke, Australia

# 180:

2:08 pm PDT, Aug 4, Shoshana Simons, California

# 179:

12:47 pm PDT, Aug 3, Daphne Besson, Netherlands

# 178:

11:35 pm PDT, Aug 2, Name not displayed, Australia
Many millions of dollars flow into Bali to enrich the whole of Indonesia,Surely some could be spent to better all health condition in Bali.

# 177:

6:40 am PDT, Aug 2, Katie Van Kampen, Australia

# 176:

5:52 am PDT, Aug 2, Tracy Van Kampen, Australia

# 175:

1:33 am PDT, Aug 1, Nadine O, Australia
hopw it successful

# 174:

9:30 pm PDT, Jul 31, Michele Hendarwin, Australia

# 173:

6:06 am PDT, Jul 28, Name not displayed, Australia

# 172:

3:51 am PDT, Jul 27, Lore Raymond, Florida
Bali deserves your support...and the world who has come to love this sacred island WILL rally with financial support, people like me.

# 171:

7:04 am PDT, Jul 26, Carl Rosenstock, Wisconsin

# 170:

3:42 pm PDT, Jul 24, Anne Persons, South Carolina
As a person with mental illness, it is appalling to me that these people could be treated for their illness but instead are treated like animals. This is horrific--this sort of treatment existed in the rest of the world many, many decades ago and reforms were put in place to help, not to harm. Mental illness is painful enough. This abuse has to be stopped. Please help them--I can only speak up, but you can make the decision that could change their lives.

# 169:

2:26 am PDT, Jul 22, Carol Morgan, Australia

# 168:

12:37 am PDT, Jul 21, Name not displayed, Australia
I wish to raise awareness for this cause as I currently work in the disability field and have also had personal life experiences on how treatment can improve the life of the person with the illness and their family network

# 167:

8:34 am PDT, Jul 17, Linda Hill, Spain
Something must be done for these abused and vulnerable people. Their treatment ( or lack of it!) Is inhumane. You wouldnt treat an animal as badly as this.

# 166:

5:07 pm PDT, Jul 15, Name not displayed, Australia

# 165:

6:14 pm PDT, Jul 14, Crystal Williams, Australia
Heartbreaking realities of inhumane practices. We can make a difference

# 164:

11:12 pm PDT, Jul 13, Stephanie Williams, Australia
The Indonesian Government needs to take action - now. it is appalling that mentally ill people continue to be ignored, mistreated and/or abused in this day and age.

# 163:

1:34 am PDT, Jul 13, Michele Hipwell, United Kingdom
I think it is very important to make sure that this work is supported. The abuse of vulnerable people with mental health problems is not acceptable and strong action must be conducted to prevent it. Michele Hipwell

# 162:

5:16 pm PDT, Jul 12, Meg Taylor, Australia

# 161:

3:59 pm PDT, Jul 12, Dean Bali, Indonesia

# 160:

10:55 am PDT, Jul 12, Name not displayed, Netherlands

# 159:

4:13 am PDT, Jul 10, Frances Reiss, Vermont

# 158:

1:32 am PDT, Jul 10, Paul Smith, Australia

# 157:

1:32 pm PDT, Jul 9, Name not displayed, Netherlands
Please provide appropiate care for the mentally ill people by giving them medicine and a good and safety place to live in.

# 156:

1:13 pm PDT, Jul 9, Elaine Robinson, United Kingdom

# 155:

4:18 am PDT, Jul 9, Sally Roberts, Australia

# 154:

3:07 am PDT, Jul 9, Karen Urquhart, Australia
The WHO has a moral and ethical responsibility to take action on mental healthi in Bali and other developing nations where people suffer. As a citizen of the world we must unite to alleviate poverty and suffering.

# 153:

11:57 pm PDT, Jul 8, Dyah Pratitasari, Indonesia
abdp

# 152:

11:40 pm PDT, Jul 8, Baukelien Franken, Netherlands

# 151:

7:44 pm PDT, Jul 8, Cokorda Adnyana, Indonesia

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