West Java Government Deploys Clinical Psychologists to 5,312 Villages to Curb Mental Health Issues
The West Java Provincial Government is instructing thousands of clinical psychologists to leave the ‘comfort zone’ of community health centres (puskesmas) and hospitals to conduct direct outreach across all 5,312 villages in the region. This proactive measure aims to curb potential mental health issues among residents triggered by economic pressures.
West Java Regional Secretary Herman Suryatman stressed that direct field intervention is urgent, given the complex social pressures across 27 regencies and cities, which are still overshadowed by a poverty rate of 6.78 per cent and an open unemployment rate of 6.64 per cent. ‘Clinical psychologists cannot just wait for the community to come to them. They must go to the community, making rounds and actively reaching out. That is why the competence of clinical psychologists is highly relevant, not for seeking a comfort zone,’ Herman said in a statement in Bandung on Monday (20/7/2026).
As part of accelerating the programme, the West Java Provincial Government held a Clinical Psychologist Competency Strengthening Workshop at the Health Service Training Unit. The activity is expected to enhance the capacity of medical personnel to detect and handle depression and mental issues among residents at the grassroots level from an early stage.
Samantha Dewi Erwan Setiawan, Chairperson of the West Java PKK Mobilisation Team, also encouraged strengthening the role of psychologists as clinical field supervisors. She expressed hope that mental health service standards at district and city health centres could be on par with those at referral hospitals. ‘Hopefully this event brings benefits to all of us, especially to the representatives from hospitals and health centres across West Java,’ Samantha said.
Indria Laksmi Gamayanti, Chair of the Clinical Psychology Collegium, praised the West Java Provincial Government’s breakthrough. She noted that West Java is pioneering structured clinical psychology integration down to the village health centre level. ‘Through various training sessions, psychologists are expected to be better prepared to carry out their roles and become closer to the community,’ she said. She expressed optimism that the regular training would prepare mental health practitioners to respond to the social dynamics of West Java’s communities in a responsive, humane, and professional manner.