Agus Sugianto, patient advocate; Deakin University
In Indonesia, mental illness is severely stigmatized as mental illness is commonly attributed to lack of faith and sinfulness. Over 90% of individuals with mental illness are unable to access mental health service. Indonesia’s low mental health literacy, the high numbers of individuals in pasung, and the stigma associated with mental illness sparked consumers of mental health care in Indonesia to establish support groups. The first one was KPSI (Indonesian Community Care for Schizophrenia) in 2008, followed by Bipolar Care Indonesia in 2013, Into the Light (suicide prevention) 2013, and many others. These groups provide support and care to individuals with mental illness and their carers.
As pasung survivor and patient advocate, I would like to represent the voice of indviduals who are chained because of mental illness. I see it as my task to support individuals with mental illness and spread awareness about the nature of mental illness among physicians and the general public. There should be more public health education, more funding for mental health, and collaboration among stakeholders and the community.
Biography: To come