Academic Highlights Importance of Mental Health Amidst Social Media Pressures

An academic from Gadjah Mada University (UGM) has emphasised the importance of maintaining mental health alongside physical well-being, particularly amidst academic pressures and the relentless flow of information on social media. Andriyani Astuti, Vice Dean for Finance, Assets and Human Resources at UGM’s Faculty of Animal Science, stated that mental and psychological health require as much attention as physical health. “When someone experiences a psychological disorder, initial intervention is necessary to prevent the condition from worsening,” she said in Yogyakarta on Monday. She added that even small-scale stress needs to be addressed and solutions found to stop it from developing into more serious issues. “Furthermore, the academic community is expected to be able to accept differences and build healthy social relationships on campus,” she noted. While physical health services can be accessed through the Gadjah Mada Medical Center (GMC), the faculty also provides a dedicated counsellor service every Monday to support mental health. Psychologist Ratih Ratnasari explained that Psychological First Aid (PFA) serves as an initial support mechanism for individuals experiencing psychological stress, aiming to help them feel calmer, heard, understood, and connected to further support. She clarified that PFA is not therapy, in-depth counselling, or a psychological diagnosis, and therefore can be performed by anyone, not just professional psychologists. Ratih stressed the importance of active listening, including putting away mobile phones to avoid distractions when someone is sharing their story. Emotional validation is also a crucial part of ensuring a person feels accepted and not alone in facing their problems. “The public should not rush to offer solutions, judge, compare problems, or force someone to talk, as these actions can actually worsen a person’s psychological condition,” said Ratih Ratnasari.