The prevalence of and perception toward mental illness: a cross-sectional study among Indonesian mental health nurses.

BACKGROUND: The emergence of the Coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic has affected nurses' mental and psychological health. This study investigates the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress among Indonesian mental health nurses and their perception of mental illness. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted shortly before the height of the Covid-19 outbreak in Indonesia. The data were collected using the 21 items of the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21), the questionnaire on perception toward mental illness, and demographic information. RESULTS: Approximately 2.5%, 6.5%, and 1.9% of the nurses had the symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress, respectively. The vast majority of them perceive that society should treat well people with mental illness (94.8%) and that the government should protect them (94.8%). More than half also believe that they can eat anything but seldom get physically ill (62.1%) and that in Islam, people with mental illness are innocent and are destined for paradise (61.1%). CONCLUSIONS: A considerably low prevalence of mental distress was discovered, which might be attributed to the nurses' implementation of mental health skills and effective coping mechanisms. Further training and awareness-raising campaigns are needed to address their misconceptions about mental illness.

The community health worker experience and perception toward mental illness: A multi-settings cross-sectional study in Indonesia.

BACKGROUND: The experiences and perceptions of Community Health Workers toward mental illness are vital for tailoring interventions, reducing stigma, improving access to services, and fostering community engagement in mental health initiatives. AIMS: This study investigates the experiences of community health worker and their perception of mental illness. METHODS: A multi-settings cross-sectional study was conducted among 487 Community Health Workers. Their experience and perception toward mental illness were studied with questionnaires, which examined their general perception, religious-related perception, cause, treatment, and expectation for mental treatment. RESULTS: Most participants concurred that serving as a community health worker enhances their communication abilities (90.4%), strengthens connections with community health center staff (84.8%), boosts self-confidence (84.6%), and refines their capacity to identify signs of mental disorders (77%). Most notably, they consider their fellow community health workers essential to their extended family. Furthermore, a notable proportion associates' mental illness with religious elements, with 19.5% believing it can result from a lack of religious worship and a minority attributing it to witchcraft or black magic (3.5%). In terms of treatment, 14.2% think Ruqyah can cure mental illness, 6.4% believe in treatment by religious scholars, and a similar percentage (6.4%) think no medication or treatment is necessary for mental problems. CONCLUSION: Participants overwhelmingly recognize the positive impact of serving as community health workers, citing improvements in communication, relationships with health center staff, self-confidence, and mental disorder identification. The strong bond among community health workers, likened to an extended family, emphasizes their collective importance. Additionally, the majority advocates for compassionate treatment of individuals with mental illness. These findings underscore the complex interplay of professional, communal, and cultural elements in addressing community mental health.