'Hanging out at malls can reduce stress'

'Hanging out at malls can reduce stress'

Living in the stressful metropolis of Jakarta can make people
more prone to mental disorders. In conjunction with World Mental
Health Day on Sunday Oct. 10, The Jakarta Post asked some
residents how they managed to cope with the stress of the city.

Heni, 30, is a consultant for a public relations firm in
Pancoran, East Jakarta. She lives with her husband and two
children in Cilangkap, East Jakarta:

People living in a hectic capital city like Jakarta are
particularly vulnerable to mental illnesses, because there are so
many things in this city that make us experience some kind of
stress -- from our busy work schedules to the city's worsening
traffic jams and pollution levels.

Extreme examples are depression or mental breakdown, but also
there are people who habitually lie -- because they are used to
making up excuses for turning up late to office due to traffic
jams.

But we can actually prevent all this by just going with the
flow and trying to enjoy everything that we do. The city
administration can also help by providing a convenient
transportation system and more public space for Jakartans to
unwind.

I myself always try to find peace for my soul by getting close
to God through my daily prayers.

Ririn Lutfiana, 17, is a student of a state high school in
Cakung, East Jakarta. She lives with her older brother and
relatives in Penggilingan, East Jakarta:

Jakarta is a really stressful place. There's too many people
living here, while its traffic jams and pollution levels are
really awful. We students also get more stressed by the many
confusing policies from the education ministry, which just adds
uncertainty to our chance of getting jobs in the future.

So what I think is most important for us to avoid getting too
much stress is that we regularly spare some time for recreation
to refresh ourselves.

I usually like to go out on weekends to search for some fresh
air at Puncak or at the Botanical Gardens in Bogor. Or just
hanging out with my friends at the mall.

Even doing something simple like watching movies on television
or listening to some soothing music on the radio is enough.

Hopefully, we can then avoid ever having to see a psychiatrist
or having to be treated at a mental institute.

--The Jakarta Post