GIANYAR (December 21, 2022) - A middle-aged man lies on an old wooden cot.  His eyes stared blankly at the ceiling and surroundings.  A 4x4 room with mossy walls is a silent witness to all of his activities over the past few years.

 Not long after that, his elderly mother came rushing in with a plate filled with her son's favorite ketupat.  With great affection, Desak Putu Sekar (72) fed Anak Agung Gde Yuliawan (41), a person with mental disorders (ODGJ) who had been locked up in his backyard since 2015.

 Since he was born, Yuliawan has been a person with a mental disability.  His crying and sneezing were only heard after 58 days of being treated at Sanglah Central General Hospital (RSUP), Denpasar, Bali.

 "After birth, he had convulsions. The midwife checked him up to 25 times a day. If he relapsed, I asked the doctor, who is also my neighbor, for medicine," said Sekar.

 As he grew older, continued Sekar, his youngest child's condition became increasingly unstable, so he had to be locked up in a room at the back of the house.

 "He was locked up because he often disturbed other people around him. He liked banging on doors when his relatives were sleeping, disturbing them, and then being exposed to hot oil, hot water, and knives. When he relapsed, he would go berserk because his requests were not obeyed," said Sekar.

 Yuliawan never received an education, but he is good at humming.  His memory of traditional songs was passed on by his older brother.

 "Sometimes, he likes to sing alone, he knows the songs from his older brother," said Sekar.

 According to the doctor's diagnosis, Yuliawan had an organic mental disorder caused by epilepsy so Yuliawan's neurobiological function, cognitive function, social function, and psychological function were affected.
 
 As a form of attention to persons with mental disabilities, Minister of Social Affairs Tri Rismaharini instructed that Yuliawan be immediately taken to Bali Province Mental Hospital (RSJ) to receive Psychosocial Support Services (LDP).

 "It would be a pity for him if we don't take care of him. He must first be rehabilitated in an RSJ, at least he can socialize for himself, and then he can be independent. That requires a long LDP process," said Minister of Social Affairs during her visit to Gianyar, on Monday (19/12).

By phone, Minister of Social Affairs and Gianyar Regent I Made Mahayastra discussed Yuliawan's needs while undergoing rehabilitation.

 "All costs for Yuliawan's psychosocial rehabilitation and food will be borne by Ministry of Social Affairs. Meanwhile, his treatment will use BPJS. Later, the Gianyar Community Health Center will submit data proposals to the Regency Government, in stages to the Provincial Government, then to the center and efforts will be made to enter DTKS in January," said Risma.

 Minister of Social Affairs Risma advised that ODGJ be immediately taken to the RSJ so they can get the necessary rehabilitation.

 "If they endanger other people, ODGJ must be handled first and placed in a specific place. Don't let any victims get hurt, then no one will be able to accept ODGJ's presence," said Risma.

 ODGJ's independence, continued Risma, is not impossible.  Many ODGJ are relatively stable and able to empower themselves after undergoing psychosocial rehabilitation.

 "The therapy they do is not only medicine but also training to be active in doing positive things. Those who have recovered can be empowered and economically independent," said Risma.

 The plan is for Yuliawan to be taken to Bali Province Hospital to receive oral medication and psychosocial rehabilitation.

 "Based on the results of the assessment, the patient is not yet able to carry out Activity Daily Living (ADL) for himself. Over the next 42 days, the patient's progress will be evaluated and it is hoped that he will be more independent than before entering the hospital," said Dr. Bagus Surya Kusuma Dewa, a Mental Medicine Specialist at RSJ Bali Province.

 If he has progressed during the ADL period, Yuliawan will undergo outpatient treatment.

 "The goal of treatment for ODGJ is not to recover like ordinary people in general but to recover from social aspects. He must be able to be empowered, able to carry out activities like other people, even though the quality is slightly lower, but there is hope that the quality can be the same as people who do not experience the problem of mental disorder," Bagus said.

 Apart from providing rehabilitation assistance and food, Ministry of Social Affairs through the Directorate of Social Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities (RSPD) and "Mahatmiya" Center in Tabanan, Bali also distributed assistance amounting to IDR 30,989,915 for Yuliawan's family, which consisted of clothing assistance, house painting tools, equipment and personal care, basic necessities, cooking utensils, cleaning tools, fans, plastic cupboards, mattresses, pillows and bolsters, and wooden tables for selling.

"I would like to express my gratitude for the attention from the government, Minister of Social Affairs, Risma, who has helped my child undergo treatment so that he can be empowered and live a decent life," said Sekar gratefully.