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pproximately one-hundred-and-ten individuals committed suicide in 2010, a slight drop from 115 persons who took their own lives in 2009.

The number, however, is still considered very high by Balinese scholars and religious figures, who for the last three years have been alarmed by the amount of suicide cases on the island, particularly those of children and students.

“We were born and raised in a culture and spiritual system that values life as not only a precious thing, but a very sacred thing,” scholar Ketut Sumarta said.  “Only the souls of humans can accumulate virtuous actions to reach ultimate union with God.

“Other existences, such as animals or even deities, do not have this ability. That’s why it always shocks me to learn that a fellow Balinese has purposefully killed themselves and, thus, turned from the path of enlightenment.”

Balinese Hinduism’s traditional teaching stipulates death through suicide as salah pati (a wrongful death) and the soul of the person who committed suicide is said to be banished into a realm of confusion and pain until their family carries out the necessary ritual to amend the cursed deed.

The northern coastal regency of Buleleng has the highest number of suicide cases at 17, followed by Jembrana 16, Karangasem 16, Tabanan 14 and Bangli 14.

Tabanan experienced the highest increase of suicide cases for 2010, increasing by 180 percent compared to five cases recorded in 2009.

Meanwhile the most significant drop took place in Karangasem, where the number of cases in 2010 decreased by 36 percent compared to 25 cases reported in 2009.

The cases’ distribution, however, confirmed the long-standing belief among the island’s scholars that suicide is closely connected to chronic poverty.

Regencies with the high suicide rates are also the poorest areas in Bali.

In the much developed parts of the island, such as Denpasar, Badung and Gianyar, where the lucrative tourism industry brings in more jobs, the suicide rate is consistently much lower than the poor regions.

“Most of the suicides are triggered by financial problems. These people were so desperate — being jobless and drowned in debts — that they decided to end their lives for good,” Bali Police spokesperson Sr. Comr. Gde Sugianyar Dwi Putra said, adding that other causes of suicide were mental illness and prolonged physical sickness.