Community-Based ATENSI as the First Step of PDM Independence

SOUTH BENGKULU (25th September 2020) - "Dharma Guna" Mental Center Bengkulu as the Technical Implementation Unit of the Ministry of Social Affairs in Sumatra which has the task of carrying out social rehabilitation for People with Mental Disabilities (PDM) has started a new step to run Community-Based Social Rehabilitation Assistance (ATENSI).

Community Based ATENSI is carried out in accordance with the policy direction of the Directorate General of Social Rehabilitation of the Ministry of Social Affairs. South Bengkulu Regency was used as a pilot area for the Community of People with Mental Disabilities (PDM).

The "Dharma Guna" Mental Center collaborates with the South Bengkulu Regency Social Service to jointly form a PDM Community in their area. Based on the results of the initial assessment from the District Social Welfare Personnel (TKSK), there are 2 areas that can be used as community pioneers, namely in Manna District and Manna District Market.

The TKSK who has accompanied PDM in the community has mapped the area and interest in talent to provide skills for the PDM which will later be used as one of the activities in Community-Based ATENSI.

Based on the results of the initial assessment from TKSK, the “Dharma Guna” Mental Center Bengkulu Team consisting of the Head of the Social Assessment and Advocacy Section, Kartika Ari Pratama together with Triyoni Rakhmawati (Social Counselor), Mimi Wijayanti (Social Worker) and Ratu Nurdianti (Social Counselor) , coordinate and assess 25 PDMs that have been proposed by the Social Service to be able to join the PDM Community.

The team's arrival was welcomed by the Acting Head of the Social Service, Didi Ruslan. According to him, this activity is very good and can be used as a forum for PDM who has finished receiving medical treatment.

"We are very grateful that South Bengkulu Regency has been used as a model, hopefully this activity can continue to be sustainable and can become a productive economic effort for PDM," said Didi.

The "Dharma Guna" Mental Center team held discussions with the Head of the Social Rehabilitation Division, the Head of the Social Rehabilitation Section for Persons with Disabilities and TKSK to discuss the mechanism for implementing the activities.

There are 2 types of skills that will be given to the PDM Community later, namely Fisheries and Animal Husbandry. The Center has prepared a schedule of Community-based ATENSI activities for 2 months in October and November.

Coordination activities were carried out for 2 days starting from September 24 to 25. After the discussion, the activity continued with an assessment of the 25 PDMs.

The purpose of the assessment carried out by the team was to obtain information about PDM problems, interests and talents and to see the extent to which PDM care and acceptance in the family and community.

The results of the assessment also determine the type of therapy that will be given to PDM during Community-Based ATENSI activities other than livelihood therapy by providing fishery and animal husbandry.

Other therapies will be provided as an activity of this Community-Based ATENSI are Physical Therapy, Medical Therapy, Psychosocial Therapy and Mental Spiritual Therapy.

Based on the team's assessment results, there were 3 PDMs who were still in a state of restlessness and had not been recommended to participate in livelihood therapy activities, but were recommended to get medical rehabilitation first.

"We really hope for good cooperation with the South Bengkulu Regency Social Service, so that this activity can be continued and not only done for 2 months," said Kartika Ari

Ari explained that after 2 months, this activity will be managed by the community with supervision from the Social Service and also the Center. Therefore, it is necessary to establish an organizational structure to run this community.

The team also coordinated with 2 instructors for Livestock and Fisheries. The two instructors will submit a skill module which will be allocated for 13 meetings, and will be followed by a site inspection for the place where the two skills will be implemented.

In this activity, the Mental Center team also discussed the memorandum of understanding between the “Dharma Guna” Mental Center and the South Bengkulu Regency Social Service as a form of commitment in forming this community.