Tri Amiyoko's Story, Ex-Mental Disorders Now Able to Work

JAKARTA (7 May 2021) - Tri Amiyoko (23 years old) was busy writing a list of the names of flowers and their prices on a purchase note at the exhibition booth at "Kartini" Center at the Ramadan Bazaar in the yard of the Ministry of Social Affairs office, when suddenly Social Minister Tri Rismaharini greeted him.

The former Mayor of Surabaya is looking for a figure who grows various types of ornamental plants and flowers at the "Kartini" Center exhibition booth. "You have to be enthusiastic, you can recover. Your mind can't be empty, seeing the ornamental plants that you care for can turn into money," said Risma encouraging Amiyoko.

Tri Amiyoko, familiarly called Yoko, six months ago was still unable to distinguish reality. He often experiences hallucinations, often hears whispers or voices that seem to mock him. Amiyoko has worked as a catering service employee in Temanggung. He was a gardener when he worked in Malaysia.

Yoko's condition is often experienced by people with mental disorders. He finally underwent social rehabilitation at "Margolaras" Pati Center, Central Java. His condition has stabilized again after four months of rehabilitation. Symptoms and signs of mental disorders do not appear anymore. "I've been working at "Kartini" Center for two weeks looking after ornamental gardens. I am happy to have a busy life," said Yoko.

The head of the "Kartini" Center, Juena Sitepu, took the initiative to give Yoko a job. Yoko manages the "Kartini" Temanggung Center for ATENSI Creation Center (SKA) plant. Juena explained that SKA which is managed at "Kartini" Center is an inclusive place for entrepreneurship for marginalized people and people with disabilities.

"Yoko has been assigned to work to manage ornamental plants, and it attracts visitors at this bazaar," explained Juena. Juena said that her party sent flowers from Amiyoko plants twice because of the flood of orders at the bazaar. "There are about two hundreds of flowers sold," added Juena.

A psychiatric consultant at "Kartini" Temanggung Center, Exnatius Anang Widiyanta, explained that stigma is a major barrier in the healing process for persons with mental disabilities.

"They range from being healthy to sick, in the acute phase, to the stable phase, which means that they are not continuously in a psychologically damaged state if they get medical and social rehabilitation help," said Exnatius.