Indonesia’s Mental Health Cases Blamed On Black Magic

BEKASI, INDONESIA – FEBRUARY 10: A mental patient is chained to a bar at the Galuh foundation for mental patients in East Bekasi near Jakarta on February 10, 2010 in Bekasi, Indonesia. Belief in black magic is commonplace in Indonesia where there is much ignorance over mental health issues, with traditional healers instead consulted for apparent suffers. 2007 figures suggested that 4.6% of the nation suffered from serious mental disorders in a country whose population now stands at around 230 million, with only around 700 psychiatrists across 48 psychiatric hospitals available to help treat those affected. With such limited care, suffers are instead usually believed to be affected by black magic and thus taken to “dukuns” or healers who are believed to have magical powers. (Photo by Ulet Ifansasti/Getty Images)