Anxiety in Facing an Uncertain Future

Socializing with friends or neighbors is necessary to maintain mental healthy, so the problems at hand will not create new ones.

KOMPAS/YUNIADHI AGUNG

Residents run in a field in the Pondok Karya area, South Tangerang, Banten, Monday (30/3/2020). Exercise can increase the body\'s resistance to disease and strengthen mental health.

The Covid-19 pandemic that has lasted more than a year has shattered the hopes, dreams and ambitions of many young people. They have also had to deal with various mental health issues that could affect their future health and careers.

When he decided to pursue administrative science in university, Budi (24) imagined that he would be able to find work as an administrative staffer after obtained his diploma, at a salary higher than the regional minimum wage and better social security. He took a number of job application exams after graduating in mid-2019, but he has yet to land a job until now.

Instead of staying jobless, Budi decided to sell bubur ayam (chicken porridge), a family business inherited from his grandmother and his parents. He sells the porridge from a cart in the Petamburan area of Central Jakarta. In just a few months, the pandemic put a halt to his business. The porridge cart is now parked in front of his house.

Also read: Physical and Mental Health During COVID-19

"I am still looking for a job right now. For the time being, I’ve joined an on-demand motorcycle taxi service to earn a living. Previously, I worked as a courier,” Budi said on Friday (9/4/2021). Budi has found the difficulty finding a job extremely stressful.

Many people are looking for work during the pandemic, so the chance of being accepted is growing smaller.

"Aside from the difficulty getting a job, I don\'t have capital to start a business," he said.

Alfajri Ahmad (17), a vocational school student who will graduate next month, is also fearful that he will not be able to find a job. He has begun applying for jobs, but he has received no response so far. "Many people are looking for work during the pandemic, so the chance of being accepted is growing smaller,” he said.

KOMPAS/YUNIADHI AGUNG

A number of people participated in meditation activities organized by the Tergar Indonesia meditation community in Jakarta, Thursday (6/2/2020). Meditation is an effort to maintain mental health.

The World Bank projects that 1 billion young adults will enter the labor market in the next decade, but less than half will find jobs (Kompas, 30/3/2021). In Indonesia, the August 2020 National Labor Force Survey showed that around 9.77 million of the 138.22 million people in the workforce were unemployed.

Employee stress

It is not only the unemployed who are dealing with stress and anxiety. Those who have jobs are also facing the same problem.

Harry Fajri (26), a new employee at a Japanese cultural organization, acknowledged that the pandemic made him feel stressed, afraid and anxious. Harry also felt he thought too much about work. He later developed insomnia that was so bad that he could only fall asleep after three o’clock in the morning. As a result, his productivity and concentration were affected, and he was physically drained as well.

Harry\'s anxiety stems from the lack of workplace socialization at the office. Imagine feeling the thrill of starting an office job, and then the pandemic suddenly comes along so he must work from home.

Also read: Taking Care of Plants, Taking Care of Souls

Deni (24), an office boy, feels stressed because he is worried that he will be unable to afford milk formula and other necessities for his son, who is just 1.5 years old. During the pandemic, he visited the office three days a month at a wage of just Rp 100,000 per day.

Deni’s earnings of Rp 300,000 a month is certainly not enough to support his family. He also sought to make extra income by helping his neighbors sell food and working as a portrait painter. "I am worried about my child, because he needs milk," he said.

For Theresia Yoslin Tambunan (24), meanwhile, the pandemic has affected her endurance and stamina. "Every time I have to go out [on an errand], it seems like my energy is drained. I feel very tired,” she said.

KOMPAS/ADITYA DIVERANTA

A video uploaded to Instagram on Saturday (21/3/2020) demonstrates a yoga move. Online exercising videos have been circulating widely to fill the void left by the social distancing policy to combat the Covid-19 outbreak in Indonesia. Yoga activities can make your health and mental health stronger.

During the pandemic, Yoslin has had to work from home without a schedule. The day-to-day changes have made her feel anxious and confused. Stress and anxiety have made sleep difficult for her. She has also developed an eating disorder that has caused her to gain weight.

The experiences of these young adults were revealed during a self-assessment survey conducted by the Indonesian Psychiatric Association (PDSKJI) from 4 April to 7 October 2020. Of the 5,661 respondents in 31 provinces, 67.4 percent said they had experienced anxiety disorders, 67.3 percent had experienced depression, and 74.2 percent had experienced psychological trauma. The majority of respondents who experienced these conditions were people aged below 30 years, or young adults.

Also read: Shining a Light on Mental Health

However, Budi, Alfajri, Harry, and Deni had not sought the help of mental health professionals like psychologists, psychiatrists or counselors. They decided to deal with their stress and anxiety on their own.

Harry watches movies, plays video games, plays a musical instrument, or edits videos to relieve stress.

Also read: Maintaining Activity and Positive Thinking amid Pandemic

Meanwhile, Budi, Deni, and Alfajri, all of who live in dense settlements and come from lower-middle class families, do not have many options to relieve their stress. Staying at home in keeping with the government’s Covid-19 policy has meant new problems for them. They live at home with other family members, so they tend to go out to relieve stress.

Socializing with friends or neighbors is necessary to maintain their mental healthy, so the problems at hand will not create new ones. Some have been fortunate to find new activities to contribute positively during the pandemic, such as joining a youth organization to donate food aid to the needy in their neighborhood.

"At least there are positive activities that can be done," said Budi.

This article was translated by Hendarsyah Tarmizi.