Photographing Mental Health Care in a Third World Country

Photographer Dimitri Pilasis travels all over the world documenting social issues, shedding light on situations that would otherwise never be seen. In January and February of this year he photographed the deplorable conditions of those in the mental health care system of Indonesia. Read on for more details and to see some photos. Viewer discretion is advised.

At just 25 years of age, Dimitri has visited 25 different countries specializing in photographing social issues. In this series shot in Indonesia, he has compiled a collection of over 600 images relating to health issues there and is now releasing images from his visit to a mental health care center. According to Dimitri, “the country of Indonesia has over 240 million people, of whom 4.6% of them suffer from a severe mental disorder. Only 48 psychiatrists are active in that country, while patients overcrowd the already limited mental health centers. All appear underfed, many are naked, the old mixed with the young (even as young as 12 years old.)”

Let’s hope that as these images get out someone will be able to speak up for those suffering these conditions and in short time get it changed. Check out more of Dimitri Pilalis’ work from his Flickr photo stream.

[Via Positive Magazine]