Why Does Bali Have the Highest Suicide Rate Among Indonesian Provinces?

Share:

-trigger warning-

In a startling revelation, Bali has emerged as the province with the highest suicide rate in Indonesia, a fact that demands immediate attention and action.

Based on data from the Indonesian National Police’s Criminal Information Center (Pusiknas), which received reports of suicides throughout 2023, the suicide rate in Bali reached 3.07. The suicide rate is calculated based on the number of suicides compared to the total population.

This figure far exceeds other provinces in the country. The Special Region of Yogyakarta (DIY), which ranks second in the number of suicides, has a suicide rate of 1.58. Then, Bengkulu Province ranked third at 1.53. Meanwhile, Aceh, which occupies the bottom position of all provinces in Indonesia, has a suicide rate of only 0.02.

Based on data from Pusiknas Polri, in 2023, there were 135 reported suicides in Bali. This number is relatively high compared to the population of around 4.3 million.

Online loans are one of the causes of Bali’s high suicide rate

Illustration of debt (Courtesy of Nicola Barts/Pexels)

As reported by Detik, there are approximately two causes why Bali is the province with the highest suicide rate.

According to a psychiatric specialist or psychiatrist at Prof. Ngoerah Hospital, Anak Ayu Sri Wahyuni, there are two causes: biological and psychosocial factors.

“Biological causes are because there are mental disorders in a person, such as depression, schizophrenia, or bipolar disorder. Then, psychosocial, such as being in debt, especially nowadays, is pinjol (online loans),” Sri explained.

In addition, Bali’s small area makes reports of suicides quickly go viral, which affects the high number of suicides.

Sri revealed that there was one suicide case that occurred in one of the districts in Bali this year. A married couple committed suicide because debt collectors or debt collectors chased them after being entangled in loan sharking debt.

According to her, the most critical effort to prevent suicides in Bali is to improve communication within the family.

She also highlights the role of the government in providing mental health treatment, reassuring those in need that services like JKN and BPJS Health cover all necessary treatments.

(Foto byThought Catalog – Pexels)

Find this article helpful? Check out our other articles from Social Expat for more food and drink recommendations in Indonesia:

SEO Writer

Imelda is a content writer specializing in viral news and Indonesian culture. Her work revolves around researching and analyzing current events, social media trends, and popular culture.

Related News

Foreign tourists visiting Bali during June may expect dry, sunny days. However, rainfall has still been observed, and this aligns with the latest forecast from Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), which states that the dry season’s onset has shifted. According to the Head of the Bali Climatology Station, Aminudin Al Roniri, the peak […]

The Jakarta Provincial Government is set to introduce a Car Free Night (CFN) every Saturday, beginning with a trial phase scheduled after the peak of Jakarta’s 488th-anniversary celebrations in late June 2025. This initiative is intended to encourage environmentally friendly activities and accommodate residents’ increasing preference for night-time exercise. Unlike the existing Car Free Day […]

Jetstar has announced the launch of a new direct international route between Newcastle Airport and Bali (Denpasar), with services scheduled to commence on 21 October 2025. This marks Newcastle’s return to regular international flights for the first time in over five years. The new service will operate three times per week using Jetstar’s modern A321LR […]

The escalating conflict between Iran and Israel has caused significant disruptions in international flights to and from Indonesia. As tensions continue to rise, several countries in the Middle East have imposed airspace closures, which have affected civil aviation in the region. Indonesia’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has confirmed that the conflict has led […]

Indonesia Guide

Just For Fun

Write For Us

Exclusive Promotions

Event Gallery