The primary hospital must be able to treat four mental health problems, namely schizophrenia, depression, anxiety, and drug addiction.Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Health Ministry strives to improve access and quality of secondary and tertiary services for mental health treatment by transforming health referral services, Director for Mental Health at the ministry Vensya Sitohang stated.
"Transformation of referral services is the second pillar of the six Health Transformation Programs in Indonesia," she noted on Thursday.
Sitohang remarked that the main focus areas for the transformation of mental health services include recovery-oriented services for mental disorder patients, the fulfilment of human rights in handling people with mental health problems, mental health service supporting networks, as well as the digitization of mental health services.
Regarding recovery-oriented services for mental disorder patients, the focus is to assist patients to lead a meaningful life by helping them to raise their expectations as well as achieve their goals in life.
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The director remarked that to commemorate World Mental Health Day 2022, observed on October 10 annually, the Health Ministry and related institutions will bolster their collaboration to support the recovery of mental disorder patients.
According to the Basic Health Research (Riskesdas) in 2018, over 19 million Indonesian people over 15 years of age suffered from mental and emotional disorders, while more than 12 million people over 15 years of age were depressed.
In addition, based on data of the ministry’s Health Research and Development Agency, five people attempted or committed suicide every day in 2016.
"The handling must be conducted professionally in helping the patients and those around them to understand that the goals of therapy are to eliminate symptoms (of the disorder) as well as to restore their (mental) health and social function," Sitohang stated.
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She said that people with mental disorders should be supported to raise their hopes as well as to improve their self-identity, self-esteem, and personal responsibility.
"People with mental health problems must be able to live independently and be accepted in the society," she emphasized.
Meanwhile, on a separate occasion, the officer of the Executive Board of the Indonesian Psychiatric Association (PP-PDSKJI) Agung Frijanto noted that his side cooperated with the Health Ministry by fulfilling the needs for human resources in mental health services.
The PDSKJI is required to meet the requirement of psychiatrists in no less than one primary psychiatric hospital in each province across Indonesia as well as at 323 general hospitals under the auspices of the association.
The attempt is targeted to be completed by 2027.
"The primary hospital must be able to treat four mental health problems, namely schizophrenia, depression, anxiety, and drug addiction," Frijanto added.
The PDSKJI also contributes to the development of evidence-based and technology-based education modules for mental health prevention and treatment as well as improvement of the capacity and capability of human resources of mental health services.
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Translator: Andi Firdaus, Uyu Liman
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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