Doctor Says Public Reluctance to See Psychologists Stems from Stigma

Dr. Angga Wirahmadi, a member of the Coordination Work Unit for Growth, Development, and Social Paediatrics at the Indonesian Paediatric Society (IDAI), has explained that stigmatisation of mental health patients persists. Many people feel reluctant to visit a psychologist or psychiatrist for fear of being negatively labelled or considered by their surroundings to be suffering from a severe mental disorder. “They (the patients) feel, ‘Oh, I’m crazy if I seek treatment.’ But that is not the case,” Dr. Angga said during a media seminar on Tuesday (21/7). To eliminate this stigma, Dr. Angga emphasised the importance of the community’s role in responding to people who show symptoms of mental disorders. The most crucial first step is to respect, appreciate, and not judge adolescents experiencing psychological problems. According to him, when seeing someone showing symptoms of a mental disorder in a public place, the public must not immediately pass negative judgement. Dr. Angga explained the understanding that mental disorders are normal medical conditions that can be cured, so there should be no more shame in seeking treatment. “Everyone has illnesses. So, just like someone with a cough or cold, a person with a mental disorder is also sick. And this illness can be cured. If you have a cough or cold, you go to the doctor, but if you have a mental illness, you must seek treatment from a psychologist or psychiatrist,” Dr. Angga stressed. To reach groups of teenagers who are often confused about where to turn when facing psychological obstacles, he considers the provision of digital-based emergency services to be crucial. The existence of online-based help centres and services, he said, can be an entry point for teenagers to dare to seek professional help. By normalising the handling of mental health just like the treatment of physical illnesses, he said, the process of adaptation and public acceptance is expected to improve. This step, according to him, can build the courage of children and teenagers not to hesitate to ask for professional help or assistance in the school environment when experiencing psychological disorders.