Friday, March 29, 2024 | 17:21 WIB

Family and friend support necessary for mental health and recovery

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dr. A. A. Ayu Agung Kusumawardhani, Sp.KJ(K)
dr. A. A. Ayu Agung Kusumawardhani, Sp.KJ(K) (Special Doc.)

Most mental problem sufferers do not feel that they are “sick”, and tend to refuse medical intervention. This condition is worsened with the fact that until recently, most Indonesian families refuse to acknowledge mental problems and tend to deny everything and sweep mental issues under the rug because it is against religion, or because they equate mental exhaustion with ‘craziness’ and fear it. 

“In such condition, the sufferer’s parents, spouses, and friends should consult psychiatrists first to find a solution. They need to see if they should intervene for the sufferer’s sake, and get the sufferer to seek treatment. If medication is prescribed, household people – parents, siblings, spouses, housemates – need to support the sufferer so they will take the medication regularly. Treatment for severe mental issues takes a long time – months, years, or even for a lifetime. It is no different from hypertension or diabetes, which require you to take medication for the rest of your life. Therefore, we need to stop labeling and stigmatizing mental sufferers, because they also have the right to live normally and become healthy along with everyone else,” dr. Agung said. 

Read: Snoring may indicate onset of forgetfulness

Finally, dr. Agung encourages everyone to care for themselves, to be aware of their physical and mental health and to care for both properly. “We need to change our automatic response to any situation, by pausing to measure ourselves and learn to adjust to what we can and cannot change. We need to understand that some conditions remain outside of our control, such as traffic jams or the weather. Avoid constant pressure. Always set time in one’s schedule to relax, and to develop hobbies that we may enjoy to keep our minds healthy,” she said. (est)

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