As many as 938 of a total 1,038 candidates will fail to win a seat on the Central Java Legislative Council (DPRD) in the 2014 legislative election, as only 100 seats are up in the poll.

“Becoming a member of the Regional Legislative Council and the House of Representatives tempts many people. Becoming a lawmaker is deemed the most effective shortcut to becoming a rich, successful and popular person,” Budi Susetyo, a lecturer from Soegijapranata Catholic University’s School of Psychology in Semarang, Central Java, told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.

However, he said that not all legislative candidates were party members.

“Many of the candidates run for a legislative seat no matter what. They are ready to take serious risks. They are very speculative and their chance of suffering from depression is bigger once they fail to win the election,” said Budi.

To treat depressed legislative candidates, health facilities and medical workers must be prepared to provide proper treatment so that they can accept defeat wholeheartedly. “They must learn to stand up again,” said Budi.

Psychologist Probowatie Tjondronegoro shared a similar opinion. “Failed legislative candidates will usually experience behavioral changes,” she said.

To achieve their ambition, they gave everything they had but then they were really disappointed and ashamed when they were defeated, she added.

Probowatie, who is also the Elizabeth Hospital public relations manager, said that before today’s legislative poll, the hospital had treated patients complaining of various ailments.

“When we asked them, they said that they are legislative candidates,” she said.

Probowatie said treating depressed candidates must involve their friends and relatives to motivate them. “There will be a period where they feel ashamed, but, life must go on,” she said. (ebf)