Bali’s dark side of paradise

For millions of tourists Bali is paradise for a couple of weeks’ vacation. Meanwhile on that same island every week people are found in chains, or locked in wooden blocks, sometimes for weeks, months or even years.

Professor Dr. Suryani, her son dr. Jaya and volunteers working for Suryani Institute for Mental Health (SIMH) care for finding and treating these people, often severe psychiatric patients kept in inhumane situations, Due to ignorance, lack of money or fear of bad spirits, their family take to these measures. Dr. Suryani and her colleagues aim to unchain these people as soon as possible, offering free medicine, support for family and involving community officials. Western medicine and local traditions are combined.

I joined Dr. Suryani and her team to visit two patients. That day they convinced the families of both Ketut and Nengah to get them out of their chains and block.