The public often read jargon – re. icon for young people – when the jargon is plastered on walls or strategic areas where people can easily read. It is interesting that such jargon often contains a justification rather than mere jargon. An example of such jargon is found on the main street of Surakarta City – on a supermarket wall that says "Psychology is expensive, so God created Slamet Riyadi Street".

That is not all, there are also similar writings on walls, silence when young people spend the evening relaxing after a day’s full of activities. That can be perceived as a promotional message that Slamet Riyadi is the right place to cool off after a day’s work while sipping coffee in one of the many cafes on the street.

The Jargon carrying the psychology profession seems like a justification that mental health is truly essential now. So what is the relation between young generation interest, particularly Gen Z, and mental health? We need to be aware that the world celebrates mental health in October with a theme ‘Access to mental health services during disasters and emergencies.”

So mental health does not belog to just one of two people but a critical issue when the world is not doing well. Then, when we look at the sentences/jargons above – re. that psychology is expensive – is that really true? Not totally correct as the health insurance clients can access it easily. The community health centres in Jakarta provides spychologists or psychiatrists although they do not serve people from of Jakarta – i.e. Surakarta City. Yet in the past five months, Surakarta City has psychology services and psychologists at every community health centres on the last Saturday of each month. This is good news because it brings health services closer to people.

The procedure to access is to come and be in line on Friday for an appointment with a psychologist the following Friday, as the latter could only serve six patients each time, so people should be well informed that the Health Office of Surakarta City has made available psychology services. Such initiative can become an inspiration for other cities. Other cities need to be aware that people have the right to get health services as stipulated in the health law and in the law on mental health No. 18 Year 2016.

Mental health must be cared for Just like physical health. The issue is that mental issues may affect individual’s objectivity in caring/treating themselves, in relating to others, in dealing with problems, and so on. A person may commit self-harm when suffering mental illness. For this reason, consult immediately when the situation has become urgent.
Consutation with a independent psychologist or phychiatrist (without health insurance) is one of the best solution to address mental health and psychological issues. The cost of a visit to a psychologist varies and different between cities and districts. Generally, the cost is around Rp300-700 thousands per consultation. A consultation in a general clinic and hospital in Surakarta is around Rp200,000 – Rp300,000 per session. One session lasts about 45-50 minutes. Yet, for clinic and hospitals aligned with the health insurance, a consultation will cost nothing for the patient. This depends on the policy of each clinic or hospital.
Online psychology consultation is affordable. But counselling and diagnosis are limited because it is done through chat and not face-to-face. The cost of consultation starts from Rp25 thousand at KlikDokter site, for example. Charges may also be between Rp 50– 650 thousand per session. The consultation lasts for about 30-60 minutes through chat and video call. The positive side is that the patient can choose the right psychologist with more flexibility.

Communication – a Healing Method for People with Disability

Entok Darmanto is the chairperson of Hore Hore Community (Komunitas Hore Hore) – a community of 30 members of people with disability for accessibility in public services in Surakarta. This community is fluid and initially focuses its activity on accessing public services for people with disability, such as roads/streets in the city. Then the activities expand to include picnic/tourism areas. Each member has a job – either in companies or self-employed. When suarakeadilan.org asks Entok Darmanto, what he and other members have been doing so far for mental health, he answers that members meet at least three times in a week at the main office or at a member’s house. Their agenda include sharing amongst themselves, talking about issues such as problems in family, work, country, even globally. Sharing is a way for members to maintain mental health.
The question is do any members need services by professionals such as psychologists, when they face issues that may cause stress or depression? Entok says that so far none of that kind of stress or depression has happened to members.
Entok is also aware that anyone or any member may be susceptible to mental health issue and he does not deny that the possibility is there, and that is the reason he is conducting health campaign amongst members.
A number of Komunitas Hore-Hore members attended training on how to give first psychology aid when dealing with someone with mental health issue. They transfer the knowledge and understanding to other members.
So when the main streets in the city has jargons that read "psychology is expensive," it does not apply to members of Komunitas Hore-Hore because they have a method to release the stress and are open to visiting a psychologist if they cannot bear the burden of psychological problem. (Astuti).