Bogor, West Java (ANTARA) - Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin urged the National Mental Health Center of Dr H. Marzoeki Mahdi Mental Hospital (PKJN RSJMM) to make a pilot model of mental health service based on the community level.

President Director of PKJN RSJMM, Nova Riyanti Yusuf, stated here on Monday that the minister’s instruction to make a community-level mental health service model is part of the efforts to empower communities by utilizing mental health technology.

“This is our common aspiration. Finally, mental health services are a priority in Indonesia. We must maximize this opportunity,” Yusuf remarked.

According to the president director, the community-level mental health service model, which will involve local health centers and integrated hospitals, aligns with the duty of PKJN RSJMM as a national mental health center.

She explained that PKJN RSJMM is mandated to be a national coordinator in mental health service provision.

With PKJN RSJMM as the coordinator, she expects that the standardization of mental health services, from the aspects of human resources, services, medical devices, and infrastructure and facilities, can be achieved.

She noted that standardizing mental health services in the country must reach 100 percent by 2027.

Yusuf noted that the PKJN RSJMM team will strive to achieve this target while continuing to improve RSJMM's quality.

"Health Minister Sadikin wants to transform mental health services that are hospital-based to community-based mental health care," she affirmed.

On Wednesday (August 16), Minister Sadikin met with Yusuf to discuss about the community-based mental health service model.

The minister said he was inspired by the community-based mental health care model in Italy, the Trieste model.

He also believed that prevention and promotion efforts are cheaper than curative approaches.

Several psychiatric services available at PKJN RSJMM are child and adult psychiatry, psychogeriatrics, anxiety and depression disorders, consultation liaison psychiatry (CLP), early psychosis, psychosocial rehabilitation, and several others.

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Translator: Linna S, Kenzu
Editor: Sri Haryati
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