Suicides in Bali

I could never understand what would make a person contemplate suicide, nor do I profess to be an expert on the subject but in today's society with all its woes and worries it does becomes clearer.

When I read an article in the JP written by I Wayan Juniartha about just this subject and how it is
happening more frequently in Bali is extremely disturbing. I do
know of it occurring often in Java and there it is quite understandable. Unemployment and lack of funds would play a great part I imagine. Here is the article which I think you will find interesting if somewhat disturbing:

The journalists in the room expected the event to be the usual bland pre-Police Day briefing during which the police chief would highlight his achievements and diplomatically dodge any questions about his failures.

It wasn't. After detailing the crime rate and the number of cases the police had been able to solve in the last six months, Bali Police chief Insp. Gen. Soenarko DA spoke in a more solemn tone drawing the attendees' attention to one specific detail in his colorful PowerPoint presentation.

"What really disturbs me gentlemen is the increasing number of suicides on the island. It seems that more and more people are taking their own lives due to reasons which in my opinion are either petty or simply incomprehensible" said.

By that time the computer controlled projector had projected alarming figures on a large white screen next to Soenarko. In the first semester of 2006 a total of 95 people had committed suicide all across the island. It was a 13 percent increase from the same period in 2005.

"I am fully aware that this doesn't fall under police jurisdiction, however, I have to tell you that the increase has really disturbed me for quite some time. I believe that as members of this community we must find a way to end this lamentable situation" Soenarko said.

He had every reason to feel disturbed. A brief research would reveal dramatic stories of desperation and anguish behind each and every suicide case.

"There was an 80 year old grandfather who after a prolonged bout of depression took a dagger and stabbed himself, not once, not twice, but fourteen times" Soenarko said presenting one case.

This took place in Keramas village, Gianyar regency. Made Lempod the desperate grandfather was still alive when his son whisked him away to the nearest hospital. He passed away the following day. Apparently the dagger had punctured his liver.

Another case was of a little boy who hanged himself because his parents couldn't afford to buy him a new shirt. And there were several young couples who chose a Romeo and Juliet ending to their romance.

The most recent example of that Shakespearean end took place Monday. I Komang Mustika and his lover, Ni Kadek Utari, 24, ended their lives together next to a river in Sampalan Klod village, Klungkung regency.

"It was the fourth young couple to commit suicide this year. What kind of desperation could drive our youngsters to make this tragic choice?" Soenarko lamented.

Police data revealed that the large majority of suicides were committed by individuals in the productive age group of 21-30 years.

"That age group responsible for over 22 percent of suicides, followed by the 11 to 20 year age group" Bali Police spokesperson Sr. Comr. AS Reniban said.

Most of the suicides took place in poor villages in Karangasem and Buleleng suggesting that poverty and economic hardship might have something to do with the distressing phenomenon.
Soenarko believes that local spiritual leaders could play an important role in preventing suicide.

"The spiritual leaders must act quickly, either by convincing people that there will be no happy after-life for those who commit suicide or by providing spiritual support to the desperate and suicidal" he said.

That will not be an easy task particularly when religion is the very thing that had placed those people in a desperate situation in the first place, as implied by noted poet, Mas Ruscitadewi.

"We have to acknowledge the possibility that some of them took their own lives precisely because they had lost faith in religion."

"Moreover, there is always the possibility that the economic burden caused by the prevailing Balinese Hindu tradition of lavish ceremonies and rituals had played a significant role in driving people to psychological desperation" she said.