In a political contest, there must be those who are elected and those who are not elected. According to the Main Director of the National Mental Health Center (PKJN) Marzoeki Mahdi Hospital, Dr. dr. Nova Riyanti Yusuf, SpKj., defeat is indeed hard and not easily forgotten. Especially if a lot of wealth and resources have been expended. But don't be sad, his party is ready to provide services for legislative candidates who need help if their mental health begins to suffer.

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The long journey of legislative candidates from the DPR RI, Provincial DPRD and Regency/City DPRD levels as well as DPD RI candidates has been crossed. After the voting, the manual count was announced by the General Election Commission (KPU). There were those who smiled broadly because they succeeded in running as members of the legislature and DPD. And many are also gloomy and even angry because their vote results did not match expectations.

For those who need mental health treatment because they are mentally disturbed after finding out they failed in the legislative elections, PKJN Marzoeki Mahdi Hospital, Bogor, West Java, which is a national reference for mental health, is ready to provide services. “We are ready to provide services for failed legislative candidates. For legislative candidates who still have money, there are private services, and those who no longer have money can use BPJS," said Nova Riyanti Yusuf, who was also a failed legislative candidate.

When someone fails in the legislative elections, he is hit by deep sadness, according to Nova, this is normal. “So it's very normal for people who fail to be sad. Especially when connected with the hope of changing fate in the next five years after being appointed as a member of the DPR. In fact, ideally, after being elected, a legislative candidate should change the fate of the nation and its constituents, not change his own fate," she stressed.

At Marzoeki Mahdi Hospital, various medical services are provided and support facilities are available for those whose mental health is disturbed after failing in political contestation. "It's okay to be sad and disappointed, but don't drag it on. We must be able to accept reality and immediately get up, even if the legislative elections fail, the world has not yet ended. I am an example of a failed legislative candidate. When I ran as a legislative candidate for the second period (2014) after completing my duties in the DPR RI for the first period (2009-2014). But what can I do, just before the voting, I experienced a black campaign. The end was predictable, I failed," said Nova Riyanti Yusuf to Edy Suherli, Bambang Eros, and Irfan Medianto when they visited the VOI office on Tanah Abang Street III 23A, Central Jakarta recently. Here's the excerpt.

In general, the legislative and presidential elections have been held, how do you see the excitement of this election?

Before the 2024 election was held, I made observations when I was still chairman of the professional organization for psychiatrists in DKI Jakarta. We made observations in Jakarta after the 2019 gubernatorial election. What is interesting is that there are similarities with the election in America when Donald Trump was elected. After that, the psychologist association there conducted research. They want to know the mental health conditions of Republican and Democratic Party supporters. The result was that Republican supporters had higher levels of anxiety. For the scope of Jakarta, I conducted research with Tulisar. At that time there were issues of segregation, primordialism, identity politics, etc. It turns out that the level of anxiety among the users of Tulisar as a social media platform is also quite high when it comes to news about the DKI gubernatorial election.

What's interesting is that even those who don't participate in debates on social media feel anxious. Some people feel afraid of losing friendships. So even though they are not participants in the gubernatorial election, or implementers of the gubernatorial election, they are also affected.

In the current election, it seems that there are legislative candidates who are successful and there are those who fail. Is it normal for those who fail to be sad?

Before the election took place, our team at PKJN had ensured that people with mental disorders (ODGJ) could vote. I make a recommendation that ODGJ can choose and what kind of implementation it will be at the RSJ or elsewhere, that is to be regulated by the KPU. Then the media also asked whether there were services for failed legislative candidates. Yes, there is, legislative candidates who still have money can take part in private services, and those who no longer have money can use BPJS.

So it's very normal for people who fail to be sad. Especially when connected with the hope of changing one's fate after qualifying to become a member of the DPR. In fact, ideally, once elected, a legislative candidate can change the fate of the nation and its constituents, not change his own fate. What you have to remember is that politics is not like playing basketball where the rules are clear. Especially in Indonesia, politics is like gambling and there is even a gambling addiction or addiction. Failed once and wanted to move forward again and again.

Ideally, after the legislative elections, you should be able to accept reality. That the world has not come to an end even though we lost in the legislative elections, how do we see this condition?

Yes, that's really possible, for example me. When I ran as a legislative candidate for the second period (2014) after completing my duties in the DPR RI for the first period (2009-2014). At that time, I already had plans to fight for the National Mental Health Law if elected as a member of the Republic of Indonesia's DPR. But what can I do, just before the voting, I experienced a black campaign. In the end, predictably, I failed.

What you need to remember before going for legislative elections is that you must be ready to win and ready to lose. So you have to prepare yourself to face these two possibilities. You should not get trapped in failure, you should immediately get out and get up again, even though it is not easy.

At that time, what were your tips after failing in the 2014 legislative election?

When I was elected as a member of the DPR RI in the first period from the Central Jakarta, South Jakarta and Overseas electoral districts, apart from being a member of the DPR from the Democratic Party, I was also appointed as an advisor to an international organization until I had to give a speech at the UN General Assembly representing the younger generation. In the second period I did not qualify for the DPR RI. Yes, you have to accept reality. If I'm sad, that's for sure, because I've tried my best. I then wrote a book, how I went about fighting for the National Mental Health Law. After that, I took part in a medical school fellowship at Harvard University for Mental Health Implementation Research. There it makes my thinking clearer, I can forget failures with positive things.

At that time, my professor suggested that I could continue my doctoral degree at Harvard. However, if I accept that, I won't be able to control many things in Indonesia. Finally I refused. As a consequence, I had to practice again at RSJ. After that I continued my S3 at UI. So get out of that failure and do self-improvement. When my doctoral degree was about to be completed, I re-entered the DPR RI via PAW (Inter-Time Substitution), but my condition was different, refreshed of course and with increased skills. Before the end of my assignment, I was asked by a high-ranking Democratic Party official whether I wanted to run again. But I said no, my answer disappointed him.

So do we really have to believe that we still have the potential and capital to continue living after losing the legislative election?

Losing is a reality that must be faced. But we still have capital, we are still alive, still healthy, still have skills and still have family who still support us. If you calculate my life, there are still many positive aspects that can be maximized after losing the legislative election.

And now people are more fluid when facing smear campaigns. In the past, I was really excited. Now people even think it's just a gimmick. What can revive us is ourselves and the support system, namely family. And don't reduce yourself to just being a legislative candidate, there is still a lot you can do out there after this legislative election process is over.

Someone who fails can sometimes still receive input from other people, but there are times when they don't. In what position is a person so lost that he cannot accept input?

Because his hopes of changing his life after becoming a council member did not come true. The five year term in office is quite long. The problem is that at that time the salary was there, the facilities were there, the insurance was there, and so on. People imagine that it will be difficult five years after being elected to become established. The motivation for entering is personal, if you enter with the motivation to change the nation it will be a different story. If he had only been in America for two years, he would not have felt comfortable campaigning again.

While campaigning, there are many requests from constituents, especially after being elected. What are your tips for not over-fulfilling constituent requests?

You have to have a certain limit, don't let it be too much so that it all runs out. After becoming a member of the DPR, I fought hard to help my constituents. When I succeeded in fighting for equipment for them and it was rejected, I returned it to the Ministry to be distributed to other areas. There are so many unexpected things after we go to the field. That's why before running as a legislative candidate, consider many things so that our steps are not in vain. Including reading who the candidates from other parties are, whether there are incumbents who are running again. And many other considerations.

There was a unique phenomenon when Komeng got the most votes as a candidate for the West Java DPD RI, how did you see it?

In the case of Komeng, I think it was unexpected. He went against the norm that had occurred so far. Politicians are very good at imaging, before taking a photo they have to go to a salon and have their photo taken by a good photographer. Meanwhile, Komeng only uses cell phone camera selfies. Or our people are tired, they don't know the candidates who are running, so they just choose someone they know. Moreover, this figure is considered to have no pretensions like other candidates who are full of image.

What advice do you have as a psychiatrist for legislative candidates so that when they lose the legislative election they don't give up?

If political intentionality is maintained, calculations are carried out carefully, and the aim of entering the DPR RI is to make changes for the nation and people. During the second period I failed because someone carried out a black campaign on the day. I couldn't get involved in that situation. I immediately accepted everything I had done.

You must regularly check your condition by consulting a psychologist or psychiatrist to determine your mental health. So it's not just your body that has to be healthy, your soul also has to be healthy.

So do you need healing after campaigning, voting and monitoring votes at the KPU?

Yes, you have to in order to recover your energy and mind, you're tired from months of campaigning. Actually, it's not just the losers who need healing, the winners also need healing. To recover from physical and non-physical fatigue.

Oh yes, how many people with ODGJ are currently recorded in Indonesia?

After the COVID-19 pandemic, we haven't conducted another survey, I think the old data needs to be updated. Before the pandemic I did research for my PhD on early detection of risk factors for suicidal ideation in teenagers in Jakarta. Of the 910 respondents who were at high risk, there were 13.8%. Of that number, there is a 5.39% greater risk of committing suicide in the future.

After the pandemic, I carried out research again using the instruments that had already been carried out, but in the Bogor area. It turns out that the results of the 2,200 teenagers who were respondents were 42% at high risk. This is a number that is no joke. This means that Indonesia must carry out more basic health research related to mental disorders in Indonesia.

After this legislative election, will the number of ODGJ increase?

Hopefully those who were involved and failed can survive and not suffer mental disorders. Problematic maybe yes, but don't get depressed. Moreover, severe depression with suicidal ideas. The solution is to quickly consult a psychiatrist or psychologist. At our place, the National Mental Health Center, Marzuki Mahdi Hospital, accepts legislative candidates who want healing after being tired of campaigning. We have complete facilities, there is a Dutch heritage golf course, basketball court, indoor badminton court, table tennis, billiards table, etc. If there are physical health problems, there are also general polyclinics and inpatient care. There is also telemedicine for those who cannot come.

So are you still optimistic even though you lost the legislative election?

We can help those who lose in the legislative elections to restore their physical and mental health. We just don't help financially those who have run out of assets, have sold land, mobile homes, etc. Hopefully there is a family who can help with that.

Noriyu and Stories about the Fun of Being a Writer

Writing is fun, said the Main Director of the National Mental Health Center (PKJN) Marzoeki Mahdi Hospital, Dr. dr. Nova Riyanti Yusuf, SpKj. The woman who has the acronym Noriyu continued to have a happy moment when the novel, book or screenplay she wrote was completed and published. The problem is that this writing activity was carried out in between her duties as a psychiatrist, (formerly) politician, and other activities in professional organizations.  

Since high school she has been interested in the world of writing. Nova is active at school as a school media reporter. If there are foreign musicians who show to Indonesia, Nova will be assigned to cover it. So she struggled with print and electronic media journalists who were also covering that moment.

The talent for writing seemed to flow from her grandfather; D. Suradji is a Malioboro writer who is also active in the Indonesian Journalists Association (PWI). She had wanted to study writing, but her parents did not approve. “They are not sure about the future of a writer. Finally I obeyed my parents' wishes to study at the Faculty of Medicine," said an outstanding alumnus from FK Trisakti.

Her grandfather who inspired her, apart from being a writer, was also a book lover in the truest sense. “My grandfather was also a businessman, he owned the paper and publishing company Haruman Hidup, in Kebayoran Baru, Jakarta. Every book he bought was read in full, there was a colored photo as a sign that he had read page by page. So far, I usually buy books, but I haven't read them all. That's why I stopped buying books until I read the books I bought," admitted the woman born in Palu, Central Sulawesi, November 27 1977.

Her writing talent continued to be honed, Nova even attended writing education in Singapore. Not only was she a media reporter, she also started writing novels, then wrote novels from film adaptations and a number of scientific papers in the field of mental health that she was involved in.

Unfortunately, the current busy schedule in various places means that Noriyu cannot complete the project of writing a novel, book and also a screenplay for a film based on her book on time. “I still have a scenario debt with Falcon Pictures. Writing a screenplay from my book 'Jelajah Jiwa Hapus Stigma: Autopsi Psikologis Bunuh Diri Dua Pelukis'. So how do you make a hopeful film about suicide? The hope is that this can be an effort to prevent it," she said.

With Bentang Pustaka, Nova is even offered a special platform to overcome the lack of time. “They say we have a platform to write per week for example. I think the offer is okay too," continued Nova, who has written 13 books, novels and screenplays.

After the voting, she held discussions with book publisher Kompas Gramedia. “I have agreed to write a book with the theme of learning from failing to compete in elections. They said I should write this, apart from being an expert in the field of psychology, I am also an actor who has failed when participating in legislative elections. Maybe there are other psychiatric experts but they are only theoretical," she explained.

It's no joke that Nova was targeted for three months to finish this book. "If I don't target it, it usually doesn't finish, because it gets involved in other activities. Hopefully it can be finished and I can also pay off other writing debts," she added.

Art of Leadership

While serving in the bureaucracy, carrying out her duties as Managing Director of PKJN, she had to study existing regulations. “In order not to make a mistake in making a decision, I have to pay attention to all existing rules. Just like before in the DPR RI, everything has to be clear before we decide. Don't let it overlap with existing regulations," explained the Secretary General of the Federation of Asian Psychiatric Associations (2019 - 2022).

Leading for Nova Riyanti Yusuf is an art, leading is the same as being a psychiatrist. “The art of therapy, and the art of leadership, at a young age I was the leader of Commission IV DPR RI. When I was in the DPR RI, I noticed all the members of Commission IX. They are all seniors, I noted that if I had provoked them three times before I got angry. Anyway, it was fun," she recalled.

Now the challenges at PKJN and RSJ Marzoeki Mahdi are different. “I used to be a junior leading the seniors. Now I, who comes from non-ASN, leads those who have been ASN for a long time. So there are challenges," continued the General Chair of the DKI Jakarta Association of Mental Medicine Specialists (2016 - 2023).

Tips for Physical and Spiritual Health

So that we can be physically and mentally healthy, Nova does not hesitate to give tips. “Just as physical health must be treated early, so do mental disorders. The sooner it is known, the sooner and the probability of recovery is also higher," said the winner of Most Powerful Woman 2014 according to Her World Indonesia magazine.

Someone who experiences mental disorders can have their social, psychological and biological factors checked. “Is there an abnormality in his brain or is there another disease that could have an impact on his mental state? The psychological side can be seen in how he faces problems, what his self-defense system is," she explained.

And apparently, Nova said, humor is included in good self-defense. “The most mature is the humor self-defense system. So if you can laugh and laugh at yourself, that's healthy. If you can't laugh anymore, that's a problem," she said.

Meanwhile, social factors are those that are difficult to manipulate. Also about losing a loved one. "During the COVID-19 pandemic, many people lost their families, and after that, some also experienced disruption. The pandemic became a public awareness opener. That It's Ok not to be Ok. That's why I said it's better to feel unhealthy than to feel healthy, even though you're not healthy," said Nova, who was awarded the MURI record for the most speakers about mental health online in 3 months (during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown).

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To maintain physical health you need to have a check-up every six months, in mental health it is also recommended. “At least consult with a psychologist or psychiatrist. Instead of telling friends to gossip, it's better to talk to an expert. Now, if it's difficult to meet in person, you can do telemedicine, online consultation. So take advantage of ways to prevent existing mental health problems," suggested Nova Riyanti Yusuf.

"What you have to remember is that politics is not like playing basketball where the rules are clear. Especially in Indonesia, politics is like gambling and there are even gambling addictions or habitually accustomed. Once a failure then want to progress again and again,"