Health Centers Ready To Threat Failed Candidates From Depression

Balikpapan, East Kalimantan, Jan 24 (Antara) - As legislative election is coming closer, the Balikpapan city administration has prepared health centers to treat failed contestants from depression. The city health service makes the preparation after learning from the previous legislative election in 2009 when many candidates suffered from depression after failing to win a seat at the city council. The candidates were depressed as they failed after spending big money in pre-election campaigns. "We will provide a special `command post` at health centers to take care of candidates being depressed for losing in the election," head of the city health service Dyah Muryani said here on Thursday. The patients could be referred to a big hospital if they are too serious for a health center to handle, Dyah added. She said in 2009`s election, tens of candidates in Balikpapan needed to consult physicians for depression after failing in winning a seat at the city council. Reports of failed candidates suffering from depression also came from other areas in the country, mostly because of the big money they spent in a lost campaign. In Balikpapan, a city of 600,000 people, around 500 candidates including incumbents would contest 40 seats at the city council. There are also other candidates contesting election for a seat at the provincial legislative body.