Minister of Social Affairs: Persons with Mental Disabilities Can be Cured and Productive When Treated Properly

Jakarta (July 19^th, 2024) – Ministry of Social Affairs (MoSA) had a serious concern for persons with mental disabilities (ODGJ) so that their mental state could be better, and they become productive again. “Persons with mental disabilities need to be well handled, treated, and had medication appropriately,” Minister Tri Rismaharini said in Jakarta on Friday (19/7/2024).

Risma said that most persons with mental disabilities came from low-income families. At the same time, they needed to consume daily medication. “Administering medication needs to involve the family. If the medication is given late a day only, then the persons with mental disabilities can be emotional,” she said.

However, the family was already busy with daily activities, so they could forget to give the medication. Therefore, collaboration with local public health center was needed. “Our center all over Indonesia has served persons with mental disabilities who have been shackled or not. Surely, we also collaborate with the Ministry of Health through Public Health Center,” she said.

Persons with mental disabilities needed to involve religious figures, local figures, and also local government. This was because there was still a stigma in society that persons with mental disabilities were a disgrace that had to be hidden. “Some reasons someone has mental disabilities are depression due to financial problems, left by the spouse, possessed by supernatural beings, as well as suffering from something,” the Minister said.

The effort to prevent a relapse had an impact on aggressive behavior, because even if the quality of medication given was good when it wasn’t consumed regularly, then the result wasn’t optimal.  Persons with mental disabilities also had mental disorders that affected the way they thought, behaved, and their daily emotions.

“Persons with mental disabilities face some obstacles in running a normal life, especially in interacting with society because of their fear of accepting persons with mental disabilities.  Although he has recovered,” the Minister said. Optimizing the service for persons with mental disabilities, Minister of Social Affairs had communicated with Minister of Health to provide a medication that could be given once a month to lessen the duty of the family.

“With the right treatment, persons with mental disabilities can be cured and productive. They can return to their families and society.  According to mental health experts, the productivity of persons with mental disabilities can be a form of therapy and increase the family’s income,” she said.