Ministry of Health aims to integrate mental health care services – Indonesia

The health ministry said it plans to integrate health services for mental health patients between psychiatric hospitals and community health centers (Puskesmas) with the aim of making psychiatric treatment accessible to more people. Indonesians in the future.

Ministry of Health Director of Mental Health Prevention and Control and Medication Celestinus Eigya Munthe said expanding the capacity of Indonesia’s health system to respond to mental health issues is crucial of the population, given the increased prevalence of mental health problems during the pandemic.

According to ministry data, about 20 percent of the population, or about 54 million people, are at risk for developing mental health problems. Meanwhile, there were only 1,053 psychologists across the country, Celestinus added, noting the enormous burden that could be borne by healthcare workers in treating mental health issues.