Abstract
Background Discriminatory acts against individual freedom rights in the context of human rights and dignity in Indonesia have been in the international spotlight due to human rights violations for years. Although the condition of individuals with mental disorders in Indonesia is quite worrying when viewed from the context of human rights; however, some basic mental health services are not available in most parts of the country. Methods This qualitative research uses secondary data such as health literature, social scientific, and national legal studies. The thematic analysis in this study concentrates on answering different research questions. However, this study encountered limited scope on two grounds; the first focuses on whether the National Mental Health Act (MHA) meets the basics set by the principles of CRPD. The second was the impact of other different rights on people with mental disorders. Results The results of this study on the number of cases of shackles and the differences between International Mental Health standards and the Indonesian Mental Health Act are also presented. A total of 23 studies have been used to determine the result from the analysis. It has been observed that adequate knowledge and awareness of people about mental retardation and health issues guide to the poor attitude as well as treatment of them. As per the report of Human Rights Watch in 2019, approximately 57,000 individuals with mental illness have been humiliated once in their overall lifetime in Indonesia. Conclusions The tradition of shackles (pasung) has resulted in ongoing suffering due to ineffective actions that violate human freedom and are contrary to human values. The Indonesian government should provide proper facilities for individuals with mental disorders to protect and cure them the people who have mental disorders and structure its laws more strongly.