UNAIR NEWS – Mental health issues are often overlooked by society due to a lack of understanding. However, the reality is that mental health problems have significant impacts on human well-being.
Therefore, the Faculty of Psychology of Universitas Airlangga (FPsi UNAIR) organized a workshop titled “Early Detection of Mental Health Problems Among Children and Adolescents”. The workshop took place at the Excellence with Morality Hall, Faculty of Psychology, Universitas Airlangga, on Friday, January 19, 2024.
“This workshop seeks to provide education on the importance of mental health early detection in both children and adults. It is the output of collaboration of dr. Frauke and Tri Kurniati Ambarini MPsi. Psychologist and the Faculty of Psychology UNAIR,” said the Dean of the Faculty of Psychology UNAIR Prof. Dr Suryanto MSi Psychologist.
Establishment of Early Psychosis Detection Research Center
In an exclusive interview with UNAIR NEWS, Prof. Suryanto explained that the workshop marked the establishment of the first early psychosis detection mental health research center at UNAIR. He emphasized the importance of establishing such a research center to address mental health issues in society.
“These psychotic symptoms have spread across various communities, including educational environments like schools, society, and workplaces. It prompted the Faculty of Psychology UNAIR to establish a research center for early psychosis detection. It will be a solution to address mental health problems in society,” he explained.
In this regard, the Faculty of Psychology UNAIR collaborated with Dr. Frauke Schultze-Lutter from Heinrich-Heine Universität Düsseldorf to assist in developing the psychosis detection research center at UNAIR. Faculty of Psychology UNAIR has collaborated with Heinrich-Heine Universität Düsseldorf for a long time.
“The collaboration, ongoing since 2019, encompasses research, studies, academic work, and publications,” he said.
Importance of early detection
Tri Kurniati Ambarini MPsi Psychologist as the initiator of Research Center explained that psychosis according to American Psychiatric Association (APA) in Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorder is a human disorder affecting the ability to distinguish reality. Generally, people with psychosis are characterized by symptoms of delusions and hallucinations.
Rini emphasized the importance of early detection to address psychosis cases. He believes that early detection prevents the severity of symptoms in individuals with psychosis.
In conclusion, he hopes this workshop will raise mental health awareness, especially among youth and adults. Mental health should not be underestimated.
“With this session, hopefully, the Faculty of Psychology UNAIR can enhance collaboration in addressing psychosis issues, especially interdisciplinary collaboration with the Faculty of Medicine. Thus, this collaboration can solve psychosis problems in Indonesia,” he emphasized.
Author: Satrio Dwi Naryo
Editor: Khefti Al Mawalia
