In Brief

  • More than 19 million Indonesians over the age of 15 suffer from mental emotional disorders, with more than 12 million suffering from depression.
  • BrandPartner’s latest research found out that, “57.55% of people with mental illnesses seek professional help for psychosomatic symptoms caused by mental factors.”
  • The stigmatization of people suffering from mental illnesses by society makes it difficult for them to recover.

It is no secret that we have a lot to address in terms of mental health challenges and population needs. These issues are visible at every level of our society. Mental illness can affect anyone, regardless of race, gender, or economic status, and at any time, place, or circumstance.

There are many professionals and non-professionals who can help people learn coping skills, such as a psychologist, psychiatrist, or even exercise, meditation, making lists, journaling, and establishing healthy boundaries. Some of these concepts are simple, but they are said to be very effective.

BrandPartner conducted quantitative research on mental health issues and discovered some surprising facts worth publishing.

Mental Health Issue in Indonesia

Indonesia has a significant problem with mental health issues. According to a national survey, known as Riset Kesehatan Dasar, more than 19 million people over the age of 15 have mental emotional disorders, and more than 12 million people over the age of 15 have depression.

The data shows that Indonesia has not been able to solve mental health problems appropriately and the pandemic has actually increased sufferers of mental disorders, which if left unchecked will have a negative impact.

The Covid-19 pandemic has worsened the community’s economy such as many businesses closing and reducing employees, which directly results in the economy but also mentally in dealing with all situations during this pandemic.

In addition, based on the Sistem Registrasi Sampel conducted by Badan Litbangkes in 2016, data on suicides per year were obtained as many as 1,800 people or every day there are 5 people committing suicide, and 47.7% of suicide victims are at the age of 10-39 years, which is the age of adolescents and productive age.

The Roller Coaster Of Mental Illness – Unwilling to Get Professional Help

Some people find the words “mental illness” scary, and unfortunately there is a stigma associated with the term. On the other hand, mental illness is very common; it is estimated that almost a fifth of the population suffers from a mental disorder such as anxiety, depression, or bipolar disorder.

There are many causes of mental health problems, and a professional evaluation can be helpful in pinpointing the problem, the underlying cause, and treatment options.

The stigmatization of people with mental illness by society makes it difficult for them to recover from their illness. Stigma is a negative label applied to a certain group of people that can harm those suffering from mental illness.

Many people with mental health issues don’t seek help because they are embarrassed or don’t know who to turn to. Recognizing when someone might ask for help is important, and there are several indicators that a professional evaluation is recommended.

Fighting Stigma Is Half The Battle

Stigma is caused by a lack of understanding of mental illness (ignorance and misinformation), as well as by some people’s negative attitudes or beliefs about it (prejudice). This can lead to discrimination against people suffering from mental illnesses.

Stigma shapes a bad image of mental illness. It also makes ODGJ lose self-esteem and self-efficacy, and prevents them from seeking medical help for their clinical conditions.

Furthermore, stigma can result in discrimination against people with mental illness and prevent them from getting two important opportunities to pursue their life goals: employment opportunities and opportunities to live independently and safely.

Stigma can worsen someone’s mental health problems and delay or prevent them from seeking help. Social isolation, crummy housing, unemployment, and poverty are all associated with mental illness. As a result, stigma can trap people in a vicious cycle of illness.

Stereotypes! Society’s perceptions of mental illness can be stereotyped. Some people believe that people with mental health issues are dangerous, but they are more likely to be attacked or harm themselves than to harm others.

Not to mention the media! Media reports frequently associate mental illness with violence or portray people with mental illnesses as dangerous, criminal, evil, or severely disabled, unable to live normal, fulfilled lives. In fact, research shows that people with mental illnesses are more likely to be victims than perpetrators of violence.

We (Should) Never Be Ashamed Of Seeking Help

Despite the many stigmas that refer to people with mental illness, there are still people who realize that they need professional help. The reasons vary, depending on the condition they are experiencing.

So far, most of them still choose psychologists and psychiatrists as their primary mental health treatment, even though there are many alternative therapies that have developed along with the advancement of time and knowledge.

According to BrandPartner’s latest research, 52.52% of survivors choose psychologists for their mental disorder treatment, which is 73 out of 325 respondents. Meanwhile, 70 respondents chose a psychiatrist to get drug therapy for their mental disorder.

Understanding Why We May Need Help

According to the data above, most people with mental disorders seek treatment from psychologists and psychiatrists.

Out of 325 respondents, 73 ended up choosing psychologists, 70 prefer psychiatrists, and the rest decided on other professional help, such as hypnotherapy, spiritual alternatives, meditation, and others.

However, why do they choose to seek out a professional’s help in the first place? According to our research, “57.55% of people with mental illnesses seek professional help for psychosomatic symptoms caused by mental factors.”

At least 80 people said they had psychosomatic symptoms and wanted professional help to get better. While 65 respondents sought help to relieve problems through sharing their thoughts or emotional release methods. Meanwhile, 53 respondents need to get more professional help to avoid self-diagnosis and get the right treatment.

Psychosomatic symptoms

Many people with mental illnesses are bothered by psychosomatic symptoms, which leads them to seek professional help. It is a mind-body phenomenon, but it is also a little more complicated.

Most of our respondents feel butterflies in their stomachs. Racing heartbeat. Sweaty palms. Shortness of breath. They experienced these psychosomatic symptoms in response to stress or anxiety. These symptoms become a daily occurrence, interfering with their lives.

Though psychosomatic symptoms are not harmful, if we experience chronic stress and our symptoms become chronic, our quality of life may suffer, other health problems may be exacerbated, and our symptoms may lead to increased feelings of anxiety or depression.

That is why they treat psychosomatic symptoms as seriously as they would any other medical condition. They would most likely seek the care of a doctor, licensed therapist, counselor, or someone who can assist them with stress management and mental health issues if they were experiencing true psychosomatic symptoms.

Emotional release

Most people feel better after talking with their psychologist or psychiatrist about their problems. Yes, we know that human psychology explains it: most people in the world are depressed and stressed because they have no one to listen to their problems.

Our respondents seek professional help because they “want to be understood, want to be heard.” Some of them believe that professionals can comfort them and help them release themselves through words.

Shared joy is a double joy. Shared sorrow is a half sorrow.

We feel more positive when we share our joy and see others rejoice. When we share something sad with someone and they listen and simply say, “It’s okay,” we feel lighter because we have received some kind of consolation.

It’s like blowing a balloon over and over again when we keep thinking about the problem. Even small problems will appear to be more serious. It’s all psychological.

Because we keep thinking about the problem and its negative consequences in our heads. But when we speak it out to someone, it just comes from within; we say everything about it, and we eventually feel better.

Need to get more professional treatment

We considered how important it is to find the right mental health professional and approach to therapy as it is to find the right medical doctor. Our respondents start calling the professional, whether it is a psychologist, a psychiatrist, or another type of mental health professional to get more professional treatment.

Someone suffering from mental illness will inquire about the professional’s approach to dealing with mental issues and how they work with them in general. Inquire whether they accept insurance and how payments are handled.

Getting professional help may save them from the dangers of self-diagnosis. Self-diagnosis is a dangerous act, especially if we are not a licensed medical practitioner.

It’s not so much that our diagnosis could be incorrect as it is that we could miss a very important symptom that is a physical illness rather than a mental illness, posing a serious threat to our health.

Many mental disorders have the same symptoms, making it difficult to tell between them. However, with the guidance of a medical practitioner, they may be able to determine whether we have this or that.

Besides, if we self-diagnose, we may overlook a physical illness that impersonates a mental illness. A symptom we experience could be caused by a physical illness rather than a mental illness.

What Do They Expect Most – Exactly!

Fever, sore throat, and chills: These are usually indications that we need to see our doctor, and we know what to expect.

However, when it comes to our mental health, it can be challenging to know when it’s time to schedule an appointment and even more complicated to know what to expect when we get there.

Fear of the unfamiliar and unknown can put us off seeing a professional, but the good news is that a little knowledge can feel like a lot of power.

When we ask our respondents about their high hopes, they may vary. Some people want to get rid of their psychosomatic symptoms, while others want to feel better and safer.

Some of them are frustrated by their mental illness and are worried that it will harm those around them. Because they find it hard to control what goes on in their minds.

It can be unsettling—and sometimes terrifying—when our mind appears to be playing tricks on us. Everybody’s brain experiences glitches now and then.

However, feeling as if our brain is constantly playing tricks on us is frequently a sign of a mental health condition that needs attention and treatment. As a result, our respondents finally schedule an appointment with professionals and expect to have proper care.

Are Professionals Really Helpful?

When they first decided to consult professionals, our respondents had high expectations. When asked if their expectations had been met, their responses were mixed.

Many of them got a lot more than they expected; some thought it was valuable to talk to a professional; and a few assumed it did not meet their initial expectations.

After all, it’s all about the process. People suffering from mental illnesses must go through a long process. There is always hope for things to get better, especially with so many professional services available.

Choosing the best treatment is also a process. If a psychologist may not provide the results you expect, another professional service provider may provide the best solution. It’s right to experiment with different treatments; we have the freedom to do so.

Recovery is a Lifelong Struggle, but It Does Get Easier

A never-ending roller coaster ride of twists and turns, ups and downs. The roller coaster makes getting to the point of recovery feel like an uphill battle.

The roller coaster of mental illness, as well as the numerous stigmas, all contributed to someone’s fear and refusal to seek help. Instead, they choose to self-diagnose. They began binge drinking, evolving unhealthy habits, and ignoring their symptoms. This resulted in them falling into a deep depression.

Seeking mental health help can appear to be a daunting task. Especially when the roller coaster of mental illness has trapped you on the ride. Making recovery both impossible and shameful. However, there is no shame in seeking help.

We are not alone in our battle or roller coaster of mental illness. There are other people in the world who are going through the same thing. So the stigma of us being crazy or weak for seeking help is completely false.

We may not always understand what is going on in our minds, emotions, and thoughts. But seeking help can help us understand why. We are not alone in our battle or roller coaster of mental illness. There are other people in the world who are going through the same thing. So the stigma of us being crazy or weak for seeking help is completely false.

Finally, mental health is as important as physical health and both your mind and body will thank you.

Final Thoughts

“Mental illness has risen over the past decades. Fallen to a big existing market in Indonesia yet with an unfamiliar method may cause an unsteady pillar in the business. However, BrandPartner frameworks allow tailored solutions to reconstruct a more rigid base, to raise awareness, relations, and sales of a brand that offers a phoenix type of services.”

– SALSABILA F. PUTRI, ASSOCIATES