Mental Health Hasn't Been A Priority, Data Reveals Majority Of Residents Reluctant To Early Detection To Treatment

JAKARTA - Maintaining mental health is as important as taking care of the body physically. A stable mental condition helps a person more easily face life pressure, maintain social relationships, and support daily productivity.

Unfortunately, public awareness about the importance of mental health checks is still relatively low, even though early detection can prevent disturbances from developing more severely.

Chairman of the Central Java Provincial DPRD, Sumanto, invites the public not to hesitate to screen for both physical and mental health so that it can be handled early in the event of a disturbance.

"This early detection of mental health is as important as physical health. Moreover, mental disorders that cannot be handled can affect a person's physical health," said the chairman of the Central Java DPRD, Sumanto in Semarang, as quoted by ANTARA.

According to Sumanto, the screening of mental health aims to prevent more severe development of problems or mental disorders. In addition, to improve the overall health recovery process.

He quoted data from the Indonesian Ministry of Health which recorded depression, ansietas, andsettle as three mental disorders with the highest prevalence. Of these, about 1.4 percent of the population over the age of 15 experienced depression, but only 12.7 percent underwent treatment, while 87.3 percent of the others chose not to seek treatment.

"This mental health screening is often considered taboo. In fact, not infrequently many people feel stressed because of the stressful situation and conditions from the home environment, school, to workplace. Stress, if not managed properly, can trigger or worsen mental disorders," he said.

He added that a person's response to stress is not always negative, depending on how individuals manage it. If left unchecked, stress can weaken the immune system so that it makes a person more susceptible to physical illness.

Based on the latest data, mental disorders occupy second place as the cause of Years Lived with Disabilities (YLDs) or loss of productive years due to disabilities in Indonesia.

The top causes of YLDs are muscle disorders and frames, followed by mental disorders, organ organs of the senses, neurological disorders, and other non-communicable diseases.

Sumanto said that currently, mental health screening is increasingly accessible through Posyandu, free health services, to self-examination through health applications.

"So this screening is as important as physical health checks. Mental disorders can occur to anyone, it would be better if they were detected earlier so that treatment becomes easier," he explained.

To prevent mental disorders, he advises the community to manage stress well, for example through hobbies, relaxation, and maintaining positive communication with family and friends.

"No less important is to recognize yourself. We also need to provide support to people who experience psychological problems by empathizing and encouraging them to seek professional assistance from psychologists or counselors," said Sumanto.