Lack Of Citizen Education About ODGJ Leads To Death Ritual In Lake Kuari

The Bogor Regency BPBD SAR Team is looking for 3 residents who drowned in Lake Kuari Cigudeg (doc BPBD Bogor Regency)

JAKARTA - Commission IX of the House of Representatives encourages the government to intensify education to the public about the importance of special care for Mental Disorders (ODGJ). The reason is, there are still many people with mental disorders who have not received the special care they need.

"In paying special attention to ODGJ sufferers, the public still does not understand how the symptoms, causes and medical steps must be taken. Therefore, massive education is needed in the community about it," said Member of Commission IX DPR RI, Arzeti Bilbina, Friday, July 21.

Arzeti highlighted an alternative treatment event for ODGJ in Bogor Regency, West Java, which killed 3 people. In this incident, a man with the initials AN claimed to be a spiritual teacher who could cure people with mental disorders.

In the suggestion to prospective patient's family, AN admitted that he could see supernatural things and said the ODGJ patient with the initials D was disturbed by astral creatures so that a healing ritual was needed. In the ritual carried out, D's body was drowned in Lake Kuari Bogor from the head up to seven times.

In the midst of this procession, D suddenly went berserk. Two people who accompanied him then tried to calm down, and pulled D to the edge. But unfortunately, they both drowned in the lake.

"This is an example of a lack of education in the community about how to handle and treat people with mental disorders. If you make the wrong treatment, it will make ODGJ patients lose their lives," said Arzeti.

Arzeti explained, based on the mandate of Law Number 18 of 2014 concerning Mental Health, the Government has an important role in prioritizing ODGJ rights. Including the right to get good treatment, the right not to be discriminated against and the right to participate in society.

Special care for people with mental disorders includes overall emotional and medical support. In many cases, support from family and closest friends plays an important role in helping sufferers feel they are being heard, understood, and accepted, "he explained.

"In addition, medical support from mental health professionals such as psychologists and psychiatrists can help establish the right diagnosis and design appropriate treatment programs," continued Arzeti.

In accordance with the mandate of the law, Commission IX of the DPR in charge of Health matters reminded the importance of education and socialization to the public regarding ODGJ. Because, according to Arzeti, there are still many people who believe that ODGJ is caused by supernatural things.

"Education is needed to the public in terms of health regarding ODGJ. We also encourage the Ministry of Health to further promote socialization regarding the importance of ODGJ obtaining health facilities," he explained.

With education and socialization about public awareness, sensitivity and support for ODGJ, Arzeti hopes that incidents like in Bogor will not happen again. People who have ODGJ family members are also considered to need assistance from the Government so that they are not wrong in handling it.

"Giving the right attention and support for people with mental disorders is the responsibility of the Government so that the quality of life of its people, including ODGJ, can be guaranteed properly," explained Arzeti.

The legislator from the East Java I electoral district assessed that the handling of the state for ODGJ was still not optimal. Arzeti said that there were still many social problems found related to ODGJ.

"Not a few also because of the lack of education on support for ODGJ patients, the family finally closed the space for ODGJ. Like carrying, confining and even keeping it away from the community," he said.

"Of course this wrong pattern occurs because of the lack of understanding of the community in dealing with ODGJ. This phenomenon is still homework that must be resolved by the Government," continued Arzeti.

Not to mention we find that there are still many ODGJs roaming the streets. In fact, many then harm others. This requires seriousness from the Government, both the central government and local governments. Of course, it requires cross-ministerial/institutional or agencyal cooperation," continued Arzeti.

Handling ODGJ is also considered to require collaboration with various parties. Arzeti assessed that assistance from NGOs, leaders and community groups played a role in ODGJs.

"I also see that there are several people personally and groups who focus on providing assistance to ODGJ. Such assistance must be supported by the Government. With the Government's cooperation with other elements of the nation, it will certainly produce positive results for our citizens who suffer from mental disorders," he said.

Arzeti reminded that the increase in ODGJ sufferers in Indonesia must be addressed comprehensively. Based on the National Mental Health Survey (SKMN) organized by the Ministry of Health in 2018, there were 14.6 million people with the number of ODGJs in Indonesia. This figure increased from the 2013 survey, namely 11.7 million people.

The increase in the number of ODGJs was caused by various factors such as social and cultural changes, stress and life pressure, consumption of addictive substances, physical health problems, and lack of access to mental health services.