Depok, 12 December 2024. The Rector of Universitas Indonesia (UI), Prof. Dr. Ir. Heri Hermansyah, S.T., M.Eng., IPU, inaugurated Prof. Herni Susanti, S.Kp., M.N., Ph.D. and Prof. Dr. Mustikasari, S.Kp., MARS as Permanent Professors in Nursing, Faculty of Nursing Science (FoN) University of Indonesia (UI), on Wednesday (11/12), at Balai Sidang UI, Depok Campus. On that occasion, Prof Herni was confirmed as a Permanent Professor in the field of Mental Nursing after delivering a scientific oration entitled ‘Strengthening the Continuum of Care in Evidence-Based Community Mental Health Services’. She is the 39th professor to be inaugurated in 2024 out of a total of 468 professors. 

In her speech, Prof Herni expressed her concern regarding the increasing mental health problems in Indonesia. Based on the results of the 2023 Indonesian Health Survey (IHS), around 2% or 1 in 50 Indonesians aged 15 years and over experience mental health disorders, including depression, anxiety, and schizophrenia. This finding is in line with global data from the World Health Organisation (WHO) which states that by 2022, 1 in 8 people in the world will face mental health disorders. mental health disorders. 

In Indonesia, mental health problems have not been fully addressed due to an imbalance in the ratio of mental health workers and limited mental health facilities in several provinces in Indonesia. Until now, one psychiatrist still serves around 250 thousand people, while the number of mental health nurses available to serve more than 270 million Indonesians is still less than 7,000 people. Therefore, he emphasised the need for an integrated and sustainable Continuum of Care (CoC) approach to address this issue. 

CoC is a holistic approach that covers the entire spectrum of mental health care, from promotion, prevention, treatment, to rehabilitation and recovery. This approach ensures that mental health services, especially in the community, are available in an integrated and sustainable manner throughout an individual's life with the involvement of various stakeholders. ‘Continuum of Care is very relevant to the policies stipulated in UU Kesehatan No. 17 Tahun 2023 and the transformation of health services which emphasise the importance of comprehensive and sustainable mental health services,’ said Prof Herni. 

Strengthening CoC in evidence-based mental health services is a strategic step to ensure that all individuals, from those who are healthy to those who are at risk or have disorders, receive comprehensive and sustainable services. There are three important aspects that need to be considered in this strengthening, namely services based on the health-sickness range, stakeholder involvement, and mental health services that must have an impact. 

Health-sickness span-based services do not only focus on individuals with mental disorders, but also those who are mentally healthy to be in optimal condition. Prof Herni conducted research to find out the appropriate service interventions in three individual conditions, namely healthy, at risk, and mentally ill. These include Therapeutic Group Therapy for school-aged children, adolescents and middle-aged women to strengthen emotional, social and mental skills; exploration of the Post-Traumatic Growth approach for individuals after traumatic experiences; and exploration of the application of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for people with mental disorders. 

In terms of stakeholder engagement, evidence-based mental health services involve health professionals, communities, policy makers, families, and patients. This stakeholder engagement results in interventions that are better suited to patient needs, and integrates local cultural values that influence community acceptance of mental health programs. This includes the involvement of cadres, the involvement of service users and carers (patients and families), and the involvement of various disciplines and expertise. 

According to Prof Herni, mental health services must also have an impact, which requires the active involvement of policy makers, both at the local and national levels. Their involvement is crucial to ensure the sustainability of the programme and adequate support in its implementation. ‘With the strengthening of CoC in the mental health sector, the quality of life of individuals is expected to improve and the socio-economic burden of mental disorders can be reduced. In addition, this step can also create a more inclusive, effective, and efficient mental health service system in Indonesia,’ he said. 

Herni shows her interest in the field of mental health services. Previously, she also conducted several studies, including An Exploration of the Indonesian Lay Mental Health Workers’ (Cadres) Experiences in Performing Their Roles in Community Mental Health Services: A Qualitative Study (2024); Stakeholder Perspectives of Family Interventions for Schizophrenia in Indonesia: A Qualitative Study (2024); dan Lay Community Mental Health Workers (Cadres) in Indonesian Health Services: A Qualitative Exploration of the Views of People with Mental Health Problems and Their Families (2023). 

Before being inaugurated as a professor, Prof Herni graduated with a Bachelor of Nursing from FoN UI in 1998; completed a Master of Nursing programme from Curtin University of Technology, Australia in 2005; and completed her Doctoral Nursing education from The University of Manchester, UK in 2016. Currently, she is the Manager of Cooperation and Alumni Relations at FoN UI; Secretary of ASASI (Association of Indonesian Academics and Scientists) Greater Jakarta Branch; and active as a Member of the Research and Development Board of the Indonesian National Nurses Association (PPNI). 

Prof. Herni's inauguration was attended by Professor of Mental Health, School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work University of Manchester, Prof. Karina Sharon Elizabeth Lovell, Ph.D; Head of the Mental Health Research Group, School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work University of Manchester, Helen Brooks, BSc, Ph.D; Chief of Party, Indonesia Health Financing Activity (HFA)-United States Agency for International Development USAID, Prof. dr. Hasbullah Thabrany, M.P.H., Dr.P.H.; Director of Prevention and Control of Mental Health and Drug Problems, Indonesian Ministry of Health, Dr. dr. Fidiansyah Mursyid, Sp.KJ; and Director of the Australia Indonesia Centre (AIC), Kevin Evans.