Presentation Information
[P-4-06]Between Healing and Despair: A Narrative Psychosocial Review of Hidden Suicide Crisis in Bali
*Dewa Gede Putra Mahayana (Medical Study Undergraduate Program, Universitas Pendidikan Ganesha(Indonesia))
Keywords:
Suicide,Balinese Culture,Psychosocial Stressors,Tourism and Mental Health,Cultural and Spiritual Beliefs
Background: Bali is known as a tourist paradise for healing and spirituality. Behind the beauty depicted lies a neglected suicidality crisis, which has tended to increase in recent years. Suicide rates among Balinese locals are the highest in Indonesia in 2024. This paradox raises inquiries about the hidden cause of tourism-centric development on Balinese communities’ mental wellness.
Objectives: This study aimed to analyze tourism, local cultural changes, and psychosocial stressors linked to suicidality among Balinese communities and uncover structural and cultural risk factors for suicide.
Methods: This study employed a narrative literature review approach. The search was conducted across PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar using keywords such as “Bali”, “suicide”, “tourism”, “psychosocial”, and “cultural stigma”. Peer-reviewed articles, governmental reports, and relevant grey literature published between 2000 and 2024 are included as inclusion criteria. Relevant findings were analyzed thematically to investigate cultural and psychosocial dimensions of suicide risk among Balinese communities.
Results: Preliminary findings highlight five major results, including increased economic disparities between locals which exacerbate stress and hopelessness; cultural degradation linked to internal conflict and despair; stigma surrounding suicide that grown in Balinese traditional beliefs; Banjar, which is supposed to be social support institution, are weakening due to modernization; and mental health services remain centralized, with limited accessibility and integration with indigenous healing practices.
Conclusion: Suicidality crisis in Bali represents a profound sociocultural issue. Prevention is required beyond clinical intervention and includes culturally sensitive and community-based approaches. This crisis calls for an urgent psychiatric and policy response grounded in cultural understanding.
Objectives: This study aimed to analyze tourism, local cultural changes, and psychosocial stressors linked to suicidality among Balinese communities and uncover structural and cultural risk factors for suicide.
Methods: This study employed a narrative literature review approach. The search was conducted across PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar using keywords such as “Bali”, “suicide”, “tourism”, “psychosocial”, and “cultural stigma”. Peer-reviewed articles, governmental reports, and relevant grey literature published between 2000 and 2024 are included as inclusion criteria. Relevant findings were analyzed thematically to investigate cultural and psychosocial dimensions of suicide risk among Balinese communities.
Results: Preliminary findings highlight five major results, including increased economic disparities between locals which exacerbate stress and hopelessness; cultural degradation linked to internal conflict and despair; stigma surrounding suicide that grown in Balinese traditional beliefs; Banjar, which is supposed to be social support institution, are weakening due to modernization; and mental health services remain centralized, with limited accessibility and integration with indigenous healing practices.
Conclusion: Suicidality crisis in Bali represents a profound sociocultural issue. Prevention is required beyond clinical intervention and includes culturally sensitive and community-based approaches. This crisis calls for an urgent psychiatric and policy response grounded in cultural understanding.