UGM Prepares A Team Of Psychologists For COVID-19 Patients And Health Workers

JAKARTA - The Faculty of Psychology, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) has prepared a team of psychologists for COVID-19 patients, families, communities and health workers who have the potential to experience psychological disorders during the COVID-19 pandemic. Reported by Antara, Sunday, July 11, Head of the Psychological Consultation Unit (UKP) ) Faculty of Psychology UGM, Edilburga Wulan Saptandari said the prepared team consisted of psychology master students and psychologists from UGM and partners. "We have 55 internal psychologists and can later involve partner psychologists if needed," he said.

According to him, a prolonged COVID-19 pandemic can cause psychological disorders, both for patients, families, communities and health workers so that they require treatment. He said since the beginning of the pandemic his team has participated in the psychological treatment under the UGM COVID Task Force call center team. "At that time, there was a call center under the UGM COVID-19 Task Force. Well, we joined there," he said. With the current surge in COVID-19 cases, the role of the psychologist team will be strengthened. Moreover, UGM has also prepared shelters for COVID-19 patients with mild symptoms in several locations. To provide treatment and psychosocial support, he said, it could be done in stages. For example, when a patient comes for the first time, they can immediately receive psychological treatment from UGM Psychology Masters students. However, if the condition requires further treatment, it will be continued to psychologists from UKP Faculty of Psychology and partner psychologists. According to him, the stages of handling the psychology of COVID victims In principle, it is necessary to get Psychological first aid (PFA) so that they are calmer, relaxed and not panicked by the conditions they are experiencing. He admits that currently, psychological disorders are not only experienced by COVID-19 patients and their families, but also health workers. Currently, they are also very tired. They are health workers who are on the front line to carry out searches and then make phone calls to families and patients one by one. Of course there is anxiety, including the emergence of psychosomatics," he said. Those who need psychosocial support have different levels of handling. Some are easier, but some are difficult, such as experiencing depression. The counseling provided is supportive and helpful so that they can immediately get rid of psychological disorders due to COVID-19