"Dharma Guna" Center Prepares Independent Community Services for Mental Health in Rejang Lebong

REJANG LEBONG (7 May 2021) - The Ministry of Social Affairs, through the Dharma Guna Center in Bengkulu, is re-implementing the Independent Community Service for Mental Health (Lakon Utama) activities in Rejang Lebong Regency, Bengkulu Province. Lakon Utama will be held in 3 sub-districts of Rejang Lebong Regency, namely Curup Timur, Curup Selatan and Bermani Ulu Districts.

Lakon Utama is a self-help group formed by the Center in the community to improve social functioning, social capabilities/ abilities as well as social responsibility for Persons with Mental Disabilities (PDM). In this activity, beneficiaries will receive various services ranging from physical, mental spiritual, psychosocial and vocational therapy from the Center’s experts and local instructors.

Lakon Utama is an effort to rehabilitate Persons with Mental Disabilities based on the community in accordance with the mandate of the Minister of Social Affairs Regulation Number 16 of 2020 on Social Rehabilitation Assistance which states that social rehabilitation programs consist of 3 types, namely family, community and residential based.

Since Wednesday (5/5) until today, 2 staff from the Center, namely Social Workers and Social Instructors have verified and validated the data of the Beneficiary (PM). Lakon Utama in the 3 sub-districts assessed to determine the problems, needs, potentials usable source systems.

All forms of services provided to PDM are determined based on the results of verification and validation of data as well as assessments carried out by officers who will then carry out case discussions.

Data on Prospective Beneficiaries were obtained from the Amanah Sumbang Asih Foundation (ASA) Rejang Lebong Regency. The registered PDMs are assisted by the ASA Foundation who live in their respective families and have received medical therapy or psychiatric medication.

The chairman of the ASA Foundation, Sutrimah hopes that the PDM under the guidance of his foundation can develop themselves and have positive activities to improve PDM's ability to socialize and have skills through Lakon Utama activities.