World Suicide Prevention Day: Breaking the Silence in East Bali

Every year on 10 September, communities around the world observe World Suicide Prevention Day – a moment to talk openly about a subject that is too often met with silence. In East Bali, where healthcare access and mental health support can be harder to find outside the main tourist areas, that silence carries a real cost.

A conversation that starts with listening

Behind every statistic is a person who was struggling quietly – a father worried about debt, a teenager under pressure at school, an elderly grandmother coping with chronic illness and isolation. In rural communities across Karangasem, these struggles are rarely spoken about openly. Mental health is still surrounded by stigma, and many families simply do not know where to turn when someone they love is in pain.

This is why World Suicide Prevention Day matters, even in a small clinic town like Amed. It is not about statistics first – it is about giving people permission to say “I’m not okay” and knowing that someone will listen without judgment.

Why this matters in East Bali

Access to mental health professionals in rural East Bali is limited. The nearest psychiatric services are often hours away in Denpasar, and the cost and stigma involved can stop people from ever making that trip. Financial pressure, family conflict, chronic illness, and social isolation are common stress factors in the communities Bali Sehat serves every day – the same communities who often cannot afford private healthcare at all.

At Bali Sehat, our 24-hour clinic exists because we believe healthcare should never depend on someone’s ability to pay. That same belief extends to mental wellbeing: nobody in East Bali should feel they have nowhere to go when they are struggling.

Warning signs worth paying attention to

Recognizing when someone may be struggling is one of the most powerful things a friend, neighbor, or family member can do. Some signs to watch for include:

• Withdrawing from family, friends, or activities they used to enjoy
• Talking about feeling hopeless, trapped, or like a burden to others
• Sudden changes in mood, sleep, or appetite
• Giving away possessions or saying goodbye in unusual ways
• Increased use of alcohol or a noticeable drop in self-care

None of these signs alone confirms a crisis, but together they are worth taking seriously. The most important step is simple: ask directly, and listen without judgment. Asking someone if they are thinking about suicide does not put the idea in their head – research consistently shows the opposite is true. It opens a door.

Where to find help in Indonesia

If you or someone you know is struggling, free and confidential support is available:

• Call 119, then press 8 to reach SEJIWA, Indonesia’s national mental health and suicide prevention line (Ministry of Health), available 24 hours.
• WhatsApp +62 813-8007-3120 for the SEJIWA chat line if a phone call feels difficult.
• Call 119 directly for any life-threatening emergency, or go to the nearest hospital emergency room (IGD) immediately.
• Visit your nearest Puskesmas (community health center) or clinic – including Bali Sehat – to speak with a health worker who can help connect you to further support.

You are not a burden for reaching out. Asking for help takes courage, and it is the first step toward things getting better.

How Bali Sehat cares for the whole person

Bali Sehat was founded on a simple belief: that dignity and care should not stop at what a family can afford. Every day, our team treats patients not just as a diagnosis, but as a whole person – someone with a family, a story, and worries that go beyond what brought them through our doors. Through outreach programs like Healthy Day, our team also reaches communities who would otherwise have no access to care at all, creating moments of connection that matter far beyond a single check-up.

This World Suicide Prevention Day, we are reminded that access to care – physical and emotional – saves lives. Every donation to Bali Sehat helps us keep our doors open 24 hours a day for the people of East Bali who need somewhere to turn.

If you would like to help

You can support Bali Sehat’s mission to provide free and low-cost healthcare to underserved communities in East Bali by making a donation at balisehat.org/donation. Your support helps us stay open for the families who need us most – today, and every day.