Ninth International Conference on Health, Wellness & Society

Abstract

Chronic mental disorders’ treatments in Bali, and generally in Indonesia, tend to use the typical hospital-based, mental health institution approach. These institutions are usually psychiatry wards in general hospitals, or, when present in rural areas, sections of community healthcare centers that collaborate with the general hospitals. Changing attitudes and behavior is recognized to be a complex process, with simple exchange of information or knowledge not being an inevitable predictor of behavior change. A further common barrier in identifying and treating mental disorders worldwide is the lack of awareness about them within communities, with stigma towards, and discrimination against, people with mental health problems being widespread. This is important, because effective awareness-raising campaigns can result in increased presentation of persons with mental illness to primary health care. A further common barrier in identifying and treating mental disorders worldwide is the lack of awareness about them within communities, with stigma towards, and discrimination against, people with mental health problems being widespread. Regrettably, this approach was never adopted by the Indonesian or Balinese mental health systems, and outreach services have not been nationally promoted as a means of improving access and mental health outcomes. As a consequence, outpatients are not normatively followed up, nor do they receive any further course of medication or counseling once discharged from the hospital.