Psychological assistance and mental assistance are not only for the children but also for mothersSemarang, Central Java (ANTARA) - Mental health awareness promotion through the integrated health post (posyandu) will strengthen existence of the service post as a spearhead for producing quality children, Women's Empowerment and Child Protection Minister Bintang Puspayoga stated.
"For almost five decades, posyandu has become the spearhead to produce and shape quality children," the minister noted at an event titled "Socialization of the Posyandu-Based Mental Health Promotion Model and Family Assistance Team" at the Pelita House Day Care, Semarang, Central Java, Saturday.
With mental health assistance at the posyandu, she believed the quality of children's health is not only developed physically but also mentally.
"Quality is not only physical. The assistance from a mental and psychological perspective is also important," she emphasized.
Moreover, Puspayoga underscored the need to provide mental health assistance to pregnant women and nursing mothers at the posyandu.
"Psychological assistance and mental assistance are not only for the children but also for mothers," she emphasized.
On this occasion, she also lauded the Brilliant Indonesian Women (WIK) organization for having initiated this posyandu-based mental health promotion model and family companion.
The minister also encouraged greater efforts to be made to disseminate information on posyandu-based mental health promotion models and family companions.
"We hope we can produce more quality children that are not only physically healthy but also mentally and spiritually healthy," the minister remarked.
According to Puspayoga, mental health promotion at the posyandu level complements the existing and successful posyandu system and family assistance programs in Indonesia.
Meanwhile, Chairperson of WIK Maria Ekowati remarked that the dissemination of information on mental health at posyandu was important since currently, awareness on mental health was not yet optimally cultivated.
She noted that the Pelita House Day Care, equipped with integrated health services, such as physical, nutritional, and psychological health services, can be used as a pilot project.
"Pelita House is an example that can be duplicated in other cities," Ekowati noted.
Her side has focused on the posyandu-based mental health promotion model, as posyandu is an integrated health service post established in 1984 and is still trusted by Indonesian mothers.
"They still trust posyandu as the source to gain information regarding the children's health and development," she remarked.
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Translator: Anita Permata D, Resinta S
Editor: Sri Haryati
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