Cyberbullying Expands, Riliv Expands Access To All Indonesian People

Audrey Maximillian Herli (photo: East Ventures)

JAKARTA - The widespread use of social media has allowed people to share their personal stories and experiences online, which sometimes result in cyberbullying.

Cyberbullying is a global problem that occurs when individuals harass, intimidate, or threaten others through digital platforms, such as social media, instant messaging apps, or online forums.

In Indonesia, issues regarding bullying and cyberbullying have been widely circulated. A 2019 study conducted by Polling Indonesia and the Indonesian Internet Service Organizing Association (APJII) highlighted that 49% of Indonesian internet users had experienced bullying on social media.

At the end of 2015, Audrey Maximillian Herli and his brother, Audy Christopher Herli, developed Riliv, a startup offering counseling and mental health services. Then in 2022, Riliv raised funding led by East Ventures.

After the pandemic, Maxi revealed that online consultation requests jumped very high, up to 800 percent.

The more people realize the importance of mental health and experience improving the quality of their lives, both physically and mentally. In addition, they also feel comfortable with online consultations. So, online system preferences still exist," Maxi said in a statement received.

As of March 2023, more than 900,000 people across Indonesia have downloaded the Riliv app, and more than 100 professional psychologists partnered with Riliv. There are three Riviv favorite features, such as Coinseling, Journal, and Editation, for individual users and company employees.

As mental health awareness increases, mental health problems increase. However, medical and psychological facilities are still insufficient to handle increasing demand.

To strengthen the mental health network in Indonesia, the government encourages collaboration between governments, local governments, universities, private institutions, professional organizations, communities, and other startups to develop an integrated approach to mental health efforts.

"East Ventures currently supports several mental health startups, including Riliv, because we believe that maintaining mental health is the same as maintaining physical health," said David Fernando Audy, Operating Partner of East Ventures.

Maxi emphasized that Riliv is fully in line with government initiatives and is open to collaborating with various stakeholders to expand the spread of information and knowledge related to mental health in Indonesia to reach a wider audience.

We dream that all Indonesian people must be mentally healthy. We always hope that the Indonesian people consider mental health as physical health, and there is no longer a stigma that people who consult with psychologists are strange or crazy," concluded Maxi.