BackgroundPhysical restraint and confinement (pasung) by families of people with mental illness is known to occur in many parts of the world but has attracted limited investigation. This preliminary observational study was carried out on Samosir Island in Sumatra, Indonesia, to investigate the nature of such restraint and confinement, the clinical characteristics of people restrained, and the reasons given by families and communities for applying such restraint.MethodsThe research method was cross-sectional observational research in a natural setting, carried out during a six-month period of working as the only psychiatrist in a remote district.ResultsFifteen cases of pasung, approximately even numbers of males and females and almost all with a diagnosis of schizophrenia were identified. Duration of restraint ranged from two to 21 years.Discussion and ConclusionThe provision of basic community mental health services, where there were none before, enabled the majority of the people who had been restrained to receive psychiatric treatment and to be released from pasung.

Introduction: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by a novel coronavirus which has not been identified previously in humans. The disease leads to respiratory problems, systemic disorders, and death. To stop the virus transmission, physical distancing was strongly implemented, including working and school from home (WFH & SFH). The limitation altered daily routines and needs advanced to adapt. Many have felt uncomfortable and this could have triggered anxiety symptoms. This study aimed to evaluate the proportion of significant anxiety symptoms and its association with COVID-19-related situations in an Indonesian context during the initial months of the pandemic.Methods: An online community survey was distributed through social media and communication platforms, mainly WhatsApp, targeting people >18 years old in Indonesia. Anxiety symptoms were assessed using Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (Indonesian Version). Demographical data and information on social situation related to the COVID-19 pandemic were collected. The proportion of clinically significant anxiety symptoms was calculated and the association with demographic and social factors was assessed using chi square test (χ2) and logistic regression for multivariate analysis.Results: Out of 1215 subjects that completed the survey, 20.2% (n = 245) exhibited significant anxiety symptoms. Several factors, such as age (AOR = 0.933 CI 95% = 0.907–0.96), sex (AOR = 1.612 CI 95% = 1.097–2.369), medical workers (AOR = 0.209 CI 95% = 0.061–0.721), suspected case of COVID-19 (AOR = 1.786 CI 95% = 1.001–3.186), satisfaction level of family support (AOR = 3.052 CI 95% = 1.883–4.946), and satisfaction level of co-workers (AOR = 2.523 CI 95% = 1.395–4.562), were associated with anxiety.Conclusion: One out of five Indonesian people could have suffered from anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic. The riskiest group being young females, people who had suspected cases of COVID-19, and those with less satisfying social support. Nevertheless, health workers were found to have a lesser risk of developing anxiety. Accessible information and healthcare, social connection, supportive environment, and mental health surveillance are important to prevent bigger psychiatric problems post-pandemic.

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Releasing these patients, however, is only the initial step. Providing alternative care in the community and within the formal health-care system is essential and requires local authority and professional support. To achieve this change Indonesia clearly needs international support, particularly research investment from developed countries and alliance with countries in the region to strengthen the mental health-care system. Considering that pasung is clearly a detrimental practice for both the individual and community health, and is against human right principles, international pressure on the government could help to tackle this issue immediately.

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The COVID-19 pandemic has caused major catastrophes worldwide. In Indonesia, the pandemic has caused greater barriers for individuals to access mental health services. This article aims to capture the state of public mental health in Indonesia using data from various national surveys. Four main problems were identified: the increase in depression, loneliness, and distress in the general population, disruption in accessing mental health services, mental health problems among vulnerable populations, and the limited scope of available mental health services and facilities in the community. This article provided practical recommendations for the Indonesian government that focuses on preparing a resilient mental healthcare system for future crises, reducing barriers to access mental health services, and expanding the available resources and programs to ensure equal and sustainable access to mental health services in the community.

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BACKGROUND The short version of the new brief job stress questionnaire (SV-NBJSQ) that is originally in Japanese could evaluate work-related stress in Indonesian office workers. However, it has not been validated in Indonesian. Thus, this study aimed to test the validity and reliability of the Indonesian version of the SV-NBJSQ. METHODS This study was conducted by linguistic and cultural adaptation of the original Japanese questionnaire into Indonesian and continued with exploratory factor analysis, internal consistency, and reliability test of Cronbach’s alpha. Electronic and paper-based data were collected using total sampling from office workers at two companies in Jakarta from December 2017 to August 2018. RESULTS A total of 438 respondents filled the questionnaire. The final version of the questionnaire consisted of 63 items, screened based on a loading factor of >0.4 and 13 factors (dimensions). Each factor had a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.628–0.887, while the entire 63 had 0.904 with a total documented cumulative variation of 64.97%. CONCLUSIONS The Indonesian version of the SV-NBJSQ is valid and reliable. Thus, we may use it as a more suitable, updated, and comprehensive tool to evaluate work-related stress among office workers.