JP\/17\/JIWA<\/p>\n
Mental health still not a priority<\/p>\n
Emmy Fitri
\nThe Jakarta Post\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
Unlike campaigns for high-profile diseases such cancer and
\nHIV\/AIDS, World Mental Health Day that fell on Oct. 10 got the
\ncold shoulder here -- even from the health authorities.<\/p>\n
The lack of attention to the issue is a true reflection of the
\nlack of understanding of how mental health is closely linked to
\nphysical health, and how an unhealthy mental state could lead to
\na decrease in people's life quality.<\/p>\n
Cliched, but real problems, like limited funds for mental
\nhealth care and perpetual stigmas on mental illnesses worsen the
\nsituation in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Countries ranging from the U.S., Britain, Norway to Australia and
\nNew Zealand enthusiastically promote mental health awareness on
\nthat particular day -- and also in the following days and weeks.
\nSupport for the campaign also came from the tiny Pacific island
\nof Palau, and also from Nepal.<\/p>\n
In its official website, www.wfmh.org., World Federation of
\nMental Health (WFMH) commented, \"We like the support in the tiny
\nPacific island of Palau, where the government prints a mental
\nhealth day message on government pay stubs for that week.\"<\/p>\n
\"We are also amazed to learn about World Mental Health Day
\nbanners in Kathmandu (Nepal) than about the posters in London. We
\nare surprised when the first report after Oct. 10 arrives from
\nBenin in West Africa.\"<\/p>\n
Some countries that are not very wealthy and that are also
\npreoccupied with a myriad of other problems still care about
\nmental health issues. That's possibly because they are conscious
\nof the fate that awaits them if they remain ignorant about this
\nissue.<\/p>\n
According to the World Health Organization, at least one in
\nten people worldwide have suffered from clinically significant
\nmental health problems during the past 12 months. And 30 to 50
\npercent of people with psychiatric disorders remain undetected
\nand untreated, even in rich countries.<\/p>\n
At home?<\/p>\n
Senior psychiatrist Professor Sasanto Wibisono spoke at length
\nabout the background in understanding the situation here. But
\nsuccinctly, he concluded that \"as a whole, rapid global
\ndevelopment has impacted on human mental health as it affects the
\nculture and lifestyle of people.\"<\/p>\n
People have to adjust to new lifestyles and learn to adapt to
\ncultures that are not part of their upbringing, he said.<\/p>\n
Corruption practices were not part of culture, Sasanto
\nclaimed. People lose their grip on their life values and became
\nconfused about what's wrong and what's right. \"We see shifting
\npersonal judgments on what used to be shameful, now becoming
\nsomething normal.\"<\/p>\n
\"Acculturation is a painful process for people who have
\nadjustment problems. Like it or not, even for those with a strong
\nability to handle the process, they are also in limbo because we
\nwill never know our limits. Life becomes so stressful,\" Sasanto
\ntold The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
Sasanto said that he did not know what was the most sensible
\nway to address the issue but he pointed out the urgency of
\ncontinuing to raise public awareness about mental health issues.<\/p>\n
\"And our education curriculum must be reformed because social
\nadjustment problems can stem from education failure,\" said
\nSasanto, who is chairman of the Indonesian Psychogeriatric
\nAssociation.<\/p>\n
Modernity versus sanity<\/p>\n
Changing lifestyles -- coming together in a package with
\n'modernity' -- also completely alter the profile of physical
\nhealth, he continued.<\/p>\n
\"In the past we only knew infectious diseases, but at present
\nwe see more and more people getting non-infectious diseases, like
\ncardiovascular disease, HIV\/AIDS, diabetes and other diseases
\nthat are a result of changing lifestyles.\"<\/p>\n
Although he had no exact figures, Sasanto claimed that in
\nIndonesia -- with its current lingering socio-economic and
\npolitical problems -- one percent of its total 210 million
\npopulation may have mental health problems.<\/p>\n
Mental health problems can manifest themselves in various
\nforms such as anxiety, depression and stress, and can also
\nmanifest as physical health problems; what in the past the
\nmedical fraternity referred to as psychosomatic diseases.<\/p>\n
Because of this alarming situation, WFMH selected \"Mental and
\nPhysical Health Across the Lifespan\" as this year's theme for
\nWorld Mental Health Day.<\/p>\n
Sasanto's colleague, Irmansyah, said restlessness, anxiety and
\ndepression were also commonly found in patients with chronic
\ndiseases like diabetes melitus, cancer, cardiovascular disease
\nand HIV\/AIDS.<\/p>\n
\"Unfortunately, most of the time these mental problems are
\nignored, and even if found, are not properly treated,\" he said in
\na statement made available to the Post.<\/p>\n
There was rising co-morbidity between physical and mental
\nhealth, Sasanto also confirmed.<\/p>\n
\"In the case of a chronic diabetes melitus patient, for
\nexample, he may not comply with the diet and other treatment
\nbecause he is losing hope. Feeling frustrated about the length of
\nthe treatment can also be a cause.\"<\/p>\n
\"In extreme cases, we call it passive suicide.\"<\/p>\n
In addition, bad behavior, constituting a crucial component
\nin mental health, became a prominent cause in eliciting physical
\nproblems. Irmansyah said the smoking habit was a 'good' start to
\ncausing heart disease, lung-related problems and even cancer.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Irmansyah said a study in Australia showed that
\npeople with chronic mental diseases like depression and
\nschizophrenia tended to die of physical diseases.<\/p>\n
\"People with mental health problems are usually ignorant of
\ntheir physical condition and this is made worse be the reluctance
\nof family to take their sick ones to the doctor,\" he said.<\/p>\n
A person with depression also tended to show bad behavior like
\neating disorders, smoking, and alcohol and drug abuse -- all of
\nwhich could lead to physical health problems, said Irmansyah, who
\nis a psychiatrist at the Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital.<\/p>\n
Both Sasanto and Irmansyah said doctors too must learn about
\nco-morbidity between physical and mental health, and hospitals
\nshould start fostering multi-disciplinary teams to handle cases.<\/p>\n
\"We've started it already with some cases but the public too
\nmust be aware of this issue so they know where to get help and
\nhow,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"Everything ends up with government willingness to see mental
\nhealth as an issue,\" Sasanto said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/jp17jiwa-1447899208",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}