EMPATHY 1st INTERVENTION

(Embracing Mental Health Awareness Through Happy Community)

CIMSA UMM

Mental health problems are serious issues in Indonesia. The prevalence of severe mental disorder in Indonesian population is 1.7%. In a community, people with mental disorders are often stigmatized, while in fact, this stigmatization could negatively impact them. One of the most common forms of discrimination toward people with a mental disorder is the practice of pasung. One of the research conducted a survey study on 1,269 respondents in East Java (in which the prevalence of the severe mental disorder is 2.2%). The instruments used were Community Attitudes towards Mental Illness (CAMI), Mental Health Knowledge Schedule (MAKS), and a sociodemographic questionnaire. From the WHO website, depression is one of the leading causes of disability. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among 15-29-year-olds. People with severe mental health conditions die prematurely – as much as two decades early – due to preventable physical conditions.

EMPATHY or Embracing Mental Health Awareness Through Happy Community is a community development held by local CIMSA UMM which aims of this COMDEV is improve mental health awareness in youth generation because our target is senior high school students, besides that, if we are aware of mental health conditions as early as we can, that protect youth generation from a mental health problem such a depression, mental health disorder, schizophrenia, etc. Our goal is to improve mental health awareness and knowledge in our cadre. So they are can be peer educators in their school and share this information with others. This community development focused on one of the CIMSA’s programs which are Non-Communicable Disease. 

We had four interventions, and on April 21st, 2021, the first interventions was held for Community Development, EMPATHY, collaboration with Senior High School 3 Malang, we took topic about: How Importance Youth Generation to Contributed Raise Mental Health Awareness with Real Action. Other interventions will continue, hopefully with the steps we provide will have some good impact, on mental health conditions in Indonesia. Other than that, to support those around us that are suffering from a mental health problem, and to seek help if we feel we are suffering from any form of mental illness or mental health problem.