Mental Health Diagnoses Surge Since Start Of Covid-19 Pandemic In Bali

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The Social Agency of Tabanan has confirmed that the number of patients with mental health issues has been surging since the Covid-19 pandemic struck in Bali over a year ago. Officials link the adverse effects of the pandemic to the rising number of depression and mental health illnesses on the island.

The Head of Tabanan Health Agency, I Nyoman Gede Gunawan said that according to clinical data, the number of people who took treatment for mental illness at Tabanan medical facilities surged from 660 patients to 797 patients as of December 2020.

“The number was significantly increased in comparison with the data before the Covid-19 pandemic began on December 2019,” Gunawan said.

Gede Gunawan explained that this phenomenon occurred as many people have lost their job after getting laid-off due to the Covid-19 pandemic. “Most of them were people who used to work in the tourism sector, they were used to earn enough money to feed their family but this situation has changed their financial condition and made them fall into depression” Gunawan added.

He also admitted that some of the patients got better after getting some intensive treatment, although they will not be able to be fully recovered from their mental condition.

Gunawan said that he created a team that consists of several different institutions such as the police department, public civil service, and health agency to handle this case.

“Patients will be treated at the clinic first, but they would be referred to the Mental Hospital in Bangli if necessary. If the patients start showing good progress, our medical staff will let them go back home” Gunawan concluded.

He also urged the patients to register themselves to get the Indonesia Healthy Card (KIS) in order to get reimbursed by the government during their treatment.