JAKARTA (May 12, 2020) - In addition to social assistance (bansos), basic needs and
social assistance, as a guarantee of social security in the context of COVID-19
accountability, the Ministry of Social Affairs also strengthens and supports
the provision of psychosocial social assistance (LDP). This is because the
impact of COVID-19 for the community is also related to the traumatic
(psychological) aspects, besides social and economic aspects.
Social Minister Juliari P.
Batubara encouraged staff to strengthen their psychosocial service program in
overcoming the COVID-19 pandemic. Social Minister said, the pandemic affected
all groups of people.
He said, not only the lower
levels of society, those who work in the private sector who can get regular
income, can suddenly because of understanding. In fact, business owners can
also be threatened, because their businesses must close.
"This very rapid and
drastic change can overcome psychological problems in our lives. Anxiety,
difficulties, panic, hope will be the beginning felt by the community. This
must be responded by the Ministry of Social Affairs, "said the Minister
when he was the keynote speaker at the Webinar event titled" Program
Launch of Psychosocial Services Responding to Pandemic COVID-19 ", in
Jakarta (12/05).
If they suddenly become
poor, he said, this is certainly not just an economic and social problem. But
there are also psychological problems. Psychological and emotional problems
also arise in families where one of the members is wrong COVID-19.
Because it must be separated
from isolation, stigma and improper handling that may arise from the
environment. "Psychosocial Services Programs can reduce the burden of
individual and community transition. With the community's transition conditions
that can help well, supporting will also help the community's readiness and
resilience in the current transition, "said the Minister.
But in its implementation,
the Ministry of Social Affairs cannot work alone in carrying out various
pandemic thoughts. Social Minister invites all elements of the nation to work
together and collaborate with the Ministry of Social Affairs, be it social
workers, professional associations, universities, experts, and so on, working
together to overcome problems.
"To all parties,
including social workers, to help educate and motivate the public to be
actively involved in various efforts to deal with COVID-19," he said.
Related, in increasing discipline in changing health protocols: wearing masks,
washing hands, distance, and so on. Thus, it is hoped that the epidemic will
end.
For this reason, in the
initial opportunity, the Ministry of Social Affairs needs to explore opinions,
views, ideas from various related and competent parties, through online
seminars (webinars).
This webinar involves social
welfare human resources, students, mental health and psychosocial
professionals, and social welfare service institutions and so on. This activity
will take place 2 times a month.
"In the future, they
will be volunteering to provide psychosocial services for these affected
communities in COVID-19. Namely by following up on this activity with technical
guidance (bimtek), "said Head of the Social Education and Counseling Education
Agency (BP3S) Syahabuddin, who was also a resource person for the webinar.
The Ministry of Social
Affairs also opened a 24-hour online psychosocial support and counseling
hotline through the service number:
Monday: 082289184427
Tuesday: 087865783921
Wednesday: 082118619567
Thursday: 081388335030
Friday: 081779413341
Saturday: 08128711019
Sunday: 081335573778
The webinar activity was
organized by BP3S as well as the Social Workers Professional Development Center
and Social Extension Workers (Pusbangprof Peksos Pensos) in collaboration with
the Indonesian Social Workers Association (IPSPI) and the Indonesian Social
Work Consortium (KPSI).