Mentally Ill Treated Poorly in Indonesia; Lauren Bush; 9th March 21

Link: http://www.cnn.com/2016/03/20/asia/indonesia-mental-health/index.html

Pasung is the practice of confining relatives with mental health problems. In Indonesia, it was banned in 1977, but still remains a prevalent issue. Human Rights Watch has recently reported that 57,000 people in Indonesia, “with real or perceived psychological disabilities” have been “shackled or locked up in confined spaces” at least once in their lives. Kriti Sharma, an HRW researcher, said many Indonesians believe that the mentally disabled are possessed by demons, and that is why they must be locked up. The effort HRW is currently making to rid Indonesia of these inhumane practices can be synthesized to the achievements of Dorthea Dix and her Prison and Mental Illness Reform.