UNAIR NEWS – Prof. Endang Retno Surjaningrum, SPsi, MAppPsych, PhD, Psychologist, was officially inaugurated as a professor of Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) on Wednesday, April 30, 2025. In her inaugural address, Prof. Surjaningrum presented a scientific oration titled “Integrated Mental Health in Basic Antenatal Services: Advancing the Mental Health for All Agenda in Indonesia.”
Her oration was motivated by the alarming prevalence of postpartum depression. In 2019, data from Indonesia revealed that postpartum depression affected between 20.5% and 25.4% of new mothers—equivalent to one in every five women suffering from poor mental health following childbirth.
Causes of maternal mental health issues
Prof. Surjaningrum identified several contributing factors to maternal mental health disorders, including hormonal fluctuations, physical and emotional stress, pregnancy-related complications, and insufficient social support.
“Mothers experiencing mental health issues are at greater risk for complications during pregnancy and childbirth,” she explained. “These challenges can disrupt antenatal and postnatal visits, lead to poor nutritional intake, increase the risk of preeclampsia, premature birth, and cause difficulties with breastfeeding.”
Despite the significant consequences of maternal mental health disorders, Indonesia still faces considerable gaps in providing adequate care. For instance, six provinces lack psychiatric hospitals, and mental health spending accounts for only about 2% of the national health budget.
Toward integrated maternal mental health services
Currently, more than half of Indonesia’s community health centers (Puskesmas) provide some form of mental health care. Prof. Surjaningrum sees this as a strategic opportunity for integration. “By incorporating maternal mental health services into existing antenatal care (ANC) frameworks, we can ensure mothers receive more holistic and comprehensive support,” she said.
This approach would empower healthcare providers to screen for mental health risks, provide early intervention, extend support networks, and deliver timely therapeutic solutions.
The ANC model supports the four key pillars of the mental health for all concept: universal access, holistic care, community involvement, and systemic integration. The six core ANC services include communication and education, psychological counseling, mental health screening, efficient referral systems, specialist care, and funding for postpartum services.
At its core, this model is community-driven. “Our research has demonstrated that community-based volunteers can be trained to identify psychological challenges in pregnant and postpartum women,” she concluded.
Author: Afifah Alfina
Editor: Khefti Al Mawalia
