"TB sufferers not only struggle with physical illnesses but are faced with a mental burden," the ministry's director of health services for vulnerable groups, Imran Pambudi, said in a statement issued on Tuesday.
"Therefore, it is important to pay attention to their mental health as part of holistic treatment," he added.
According to Pambudi, TB not only affects a patient's body but also has a significant psychological impact.
Research shows that many TB patients experience mental disorders such as anxiety and depression, which are often exacerbated by social stigma, long treatment duration, and economic pressures.
Data shows that around 42 percent of TB patients in Indonesia experience depression along with high anxiety levels, he highlighted.
He said that these factors can worsen their mental health and eventually affect the treatment process.
"The stigma in society often makes patients feel isolated and alone. Many choose to hide because they are afraid of being ostracized," Pambudi said.
In response to this, he emphasized the importance of integrating mental health support into TB treatment.
Routine screening for mental disorders, psychosocial support, and training of health workers to recognize mental health problems are some steps that have been proposed to address the psychological impact of TB.
In addition, the financial pressures faced by patients should not be ignored, he said.
Pambudi explained that many TB patients, especially those living in remote areas or facing difficult economic conditions, have difficulty accessing the health services they need.
He said that financial support or economic empowerment programs could help ease their burden.
"This approach will ensure that patients not only recover physically but can also overcome their psychological challenges," Pambudi explained.
Through the "GIATKAN: Indonesia's Movement to End Tuberculosis with Commitment and Real Action," envisaged in the framework of World Tuberculosis Day, TB must be handled using a more inclusive approach, which integrates physical and mental care, he added.
Under this approach, the community and health workers are expected to collaborate to reduce social stigma, provide psychosocial support, and ensure that TB patients receive comprehensive care, both physically and mentally.
"This way, Indonesia can end the TB outbreak more effectively and provide new hope for TB sufferers," Pambudi added.
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Translator: Adimas Raditya, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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