Celebrating World Mental Health Day, Social Welfare Department Holds Mental Talk Event

SC Hall, UIN News Online – Social work is a practice-based profession and academic discipline that promotes social change and development, social cohesion, empowerment and liberation of people. The principles of social justice, human rights, collective responsibility and respect for diversity are the core of social work.

This was said by the Chair of the Independent Indonesian Professional Social Worker (IPSPI) Nurul Eka Hidayati in her speech at the 2022 Social Welfare Fair Mental Talk entitled “Knowing, Recognizing, and Caring” held at the Student Center Hall, Monday (10/10/2022).

Nurul explained, IPSPI is a forum for social worker professions such as doctors who are members of the Indonesian Doctors Association (IDI). IPSPI has a program to ensure that the knowledge and practice of social workers run well in accordance with its code of ethics.

“Broadly speaking, all professions have a role in mental health. Mental health is not only a medical problem but also a social problem. In Indonesia, this is stated in Law Number 18 of 2014 concerning Mental Health, especially in Article 19 paragraph (2),” she said.

Nurul added, mental health is the capacity of individuals, groups and the environment to interact with each other by promoting subjective well-being, optimal development, and the use of mental abilities (cognitive, affective and relational).

According to Nurul, there are three things that must be considered and trained so that the soul remains healthy, namely cognitive, affective, and relational aspects. First, cognitive is the ability to express and discuss the contents of the mind. Second, affective, namely being able to show feelings of affection in its place. Third, social relations, namely being able to relate socially.

Opening up, understanding yourself, and communicating with experts are three important steps to maintaining mental health. “There should be no negative stigma when people go to psychologists or psychiatrists. One way to reduce the negative stigma is to start listening to friends' stories with empathy,” she said.

This is a mainstream diversity that must be brought. She also considered that this activity was a way to reduce stigma because it could build awareness about the importance of mental health.

On the same occasion, Head of Social Welfare Department Ahmad Zaky said. based on data from the Ministry of Social Affairs, there are hundreds of thousands of Indonesians who suffer from mental health. Some of the obstacles in dealing with mental health in Indonesia, he said, are the negative stigma from both family and community.

“Therefore, the family covers the first treatment for members who have mental disorders. There are even some people with mental disorders who are locked up at home,” he said.

Another obstacle, according to Ahmad Zaki, is the inequal access to health in Indonesia.

“Data from the Ministry of Health proves that there are more than nine million people affected by mental disorders, the average age is above 15 years old,” he concluded. (fa/usa)