Ministry of Social Affairs Ensures Persons with Mental Disabilities are Accepted by Families and Communities

NORTH BENGKULU (13 August 2020) - The Ministry of Social Affairs through the "Dharma Guna" Mental Center in Bengkulu again held the Family-Based Social Rehabilitation Assistance (ATENSI) activity for People with Mental Disabilities (PDM).

The activity lasted for 3 days from 12-14 August 2020, this time it was held in North Bengkulu Regency, after previously being held in Bengkulu City.

In addition to the Head of Subsection for Administration of the Social Rehabilitation Center for Persons with Mental Disability Dharma Guna Bengkulu, Haris Sulianto, this activity also presented two other speakers, namely dr. Andri Soedjatmoko, Sp.Kj, a practitioner of the Raflesia Hospital Bengkulu and Suwanto, the Head of the North Bengkulu Regency Social Service.

Basically, everything starts from instilling basic values ​​in the family. Families must also be open to learning about how PDM is able to reach its potential and should not be ashamed to accept PDM in the family, said dr. Andri said that when one of the PDM cadres, dr. Valentine from the Arga Makmur Health Center asked, "What is the trick for the family to understand the condition of PDM?"

Saipul Amri, a Karanganyar village head, also did not want to miss asking at this moment. He asked how the family/community can know about PDM that has relapsed?

"There are signs to see the recurrence of PDM such as sleep quality, social behavior that deviates again and mindset that is not appropriate," answered dr. Andri.

The Dissemination and technical guidance activities were attended by PDM parents, Social Service, Head of Sub-district, Village Head, Community Health Center, Community Leader, Cadre Assistant and District Social Welfare Personnel.

dr. Andri also explained that the key to PDM's recovery is by re-accepting PDM in his family and society, helping him reach all his potential with patience.

The family-based ATENSI which was activated by the "Dharma Guna" Mental Center has the aim of preparing and providing for families and communities in caring for and assisting PDM as an inseparable part of the social rehabilitation process, said Haris.

Fully aware that it is impossible for Centers to carry out Residential-based social rehabilitation forever, families and communities are the most important stakeholders in helping PDM to be able to return to normal activities.

The “Dharma Guna” Mental Center Team, namely Haris Sulianto, Darwanti, Social Counselor and Mimi Wijayanti, Social Workers continued the RSBK intervention activities by conducting field visits to check health, motivation and education to families and provide social independence assistance for PDM.