UNAIR NEWS – The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic not only attacks a person’s health physically but also affects their mental condition. We often become ignorant of mental health, even though these conditions can cause serious effects such as excessive anxiety, depression, and even mental disorders.
Rezita Nurul Magfiroh, one of Faculty Vocational Studies (FV) students of Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR), recently succeeded in coming up with an idea through her essay entitled Bandar Kesmen, which is an acronym for Barisan Pemuda Sadar Kesehatan Mental (Youth Aware of Mental Health). Through the essay, she managed to win First Place at the national event, Imatelki Essay Competition National Competition 2.0.
According to the Medical Laboratory study program student, Bandar Kesmen was created to increase public awareness on mental health due to the influence of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“In this case, my essay raises the urgency of the public mental health during a pandemic. This essay refers to data from a mental health survey by the Association of Medical Specialists, which states that 63 percent of respondents claim to experience anxiety during the pandemic. Meanwhile, 66 percent of respondents claimed to be depressed,” said Rezita.
“Therefore, I was moved to make Bandar Kesmen program by taking the first step, writing it in essay form,” she added.
As projected, the Bandar Kesmen program will recruit young cadres, the youth deployed to the villages.
“Later on, this program will recruit teenagers aged 17-24 years, through the stages of dissemination, education, and training,” said Rezita.
“Because the level is the village level, the cadres will later be deployed in the villages to villagers who need assistance regarding their mental health,” she continued.
Rezita also hoped that through her ideas, the Bandar Kesmen program would be able to bring about positive changes. The people in Indonesia are becoming more aware of their mental health.
Author: Zahwa E. Bella
Editor: Feri Fenoria
