Good initiatives such as this one must be continued
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko lauded the Indonesian Psychologist Association (HIMPSI) that continues to provide psychological service to people through the Sehat Jiwa (Sejiwa) telecounseling service.

"I highly laud the performance of HIMPSI and Sejiwa volunteers that work to provide benefits to the people," he remarked while receiving HIMPSI's officials here on Monday, as written through a press statement.

Sejiwa is an initiative from HIMPSI accommodated by the Presidential Staff Office, Health Ministry, Women's Empowerment and Child Protection Ministry, COVID-19 Task Force, and National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB).

While the COVID-19 pandemic has started to decline, long-term psychological issues that arose as a result of the pandemic may still be experienced by the people, he noted.

"The presence of telecounseling service, such as Sejiwa, is still very much needed. Good initiatives such as this one must be continued," he remarked.

During the meeting, HIMPSI's Head Seger Handoyo delivered a report on Sejiwa's operation during the last two years.

In 2021, the total number of calls to Sejiwa reached 212,768, or rose by 97 percent, as compared to 107,598 calls in 2020.

More than 50 percent of the problems reported through Sejiwa ranged from the impact of COVID-19 to familial issues.

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Meanwhile, some 24 percent of the reports ranged from the impact of the pandemic to psycho-social issues and the environment.

Several other issues include the impact of the pandemic and problems outside of families, such as work and education.

HIMPSI also informed Moeldoko of the importance of ratifying the Psychological Education and Service Bill that had currently already been included in the 2021 Priority National Legislation Program (Prolegnas).

This aims to provide assurance to professional psychologists across Indonesia.

"Existence of the Psychological Education and Service Law is expected to be able to minimize psychological service malpractices that currently tend to occur," Handoyo stated.

"In addition, we expect that the mental health service becomes more affordable to the people," he stated.

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Translator: Rangga P A J, Fadhli Ruhman
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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