Mental Health Shattered by the Pandemic

KOMPAS/RIZA FATHONI

Officers help people with mental disorders (ODGJ) wearing masks after undergoing a PCR swab test at the Bina Insan Bangun Daya 2 Social Institution, Cipayung, Jakarta, Monday (23/8/2021). A total of 300 ODGJ underwent a PCR swab test carried out by health workers at the Cipayung District Health Center in order to screen them before the second dose of Covid-19 vaccination for them.

Over the past year, Abin (22), who runs an online shop from Central Jakarta, started having trouble sleeping. He could only fall asleep around midnight or in the early morning, listening to relaxing music.

The man, who hails from Central Java, dreamed of having a good career with a decent wage so he could fulfill his and his parent’s needs. Unfortunately, the Covid-19 pandemic caused him to be laid off after he had worked for only three months.

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Abin was devastated. He locked himself in his rented room for a week. Over time, his feelings of anxiety grew about not being able to find a new job. In fact, he had almost used up his savings for daily needs.

“During that week, I could only sleep for two hours. After that, it was hard to sleep, I just cried. I didn\'t know what to do. My parents in the village were also in a difficult situation," he said on Thursday (7/10/2021).

Abin felt that he had failed at his job and that he could not help his parents. He often scratched at his hands, bit his lips until they bled and pulled his hair.

He has been trying hard these days to contain the urge to self-harm. He does this by doodling, tearing paper, watching entertainment shows or taking a break from social media and avoiding using his device.

"Anyway, the whole day I tried to calm down. But I was still unstable. If I feel sad, I suddenly want to hurt myself again," he said.

Kompas/Bahana Patria Gupta

Traders and buyers of ex-imported clothes on Jalan Gembong Tebasan, Surabaya, Sunday (3/10/20210. Economic pressure due to the pandemic has made ex-imported clothes the people\'s choice because of low prices.

The desire to self-harm was also experienced by Resa Nur Azizah (19), a freshman who enrolled at a university in Yogyakarta in 2020.

Her idea of making new friends and her excitement at being a new student have disappeared. The Covid-19 pandemic has forced Azizah, who comes from Majalengka, West Java, to learning online. There are no face-to-face meetings with friends.

“I started to feel isolated. It felt like no one was there. Both my parents work until night,” Azizah, an only child, said on Friday (8/10). Her only company was her laptop, gadgets, anxiety and boredom.

She gets tired easily and is more sensitive. She sleeps poorly. Sometimes, she is unable to complete tasks that are approaching their deadline.

Feeling neglected with no one to talk to, Resa grew angry. Sometimes, she wanted to hurt herself. "I almost killed myself, carrying a knife all the time," she said, holding her head in her hands.

It was difficult for her to find a job, as many companies were laying off or firing employees rather than recruiting new ones.

Meanwhile, Zahra (25), a teacher in South Jakarta, had just graduated from university when the pandemic hit the country. It was difficult for her to find a job, as many companies were laying off or firing employees rather than recruiting new ones.

"I felt inferior because I saw other people get hired while I\'m stuck trying to get a job," she said. The situation made her lock herself in her room more frequently, crying and not wanting to socialize.

KOMPAS/KORNELIS KEWA AMA

The head of the Dymphna Maumere Orphanage, Sr. Lucia CIJ (third from rear left) and a number of caregivers take a photo with people with mental disorders, the majority of whom are women in Maumere, August 2021.

When she found a job, she experienced mental exhaustion from her excessive workload. The East Jakarta resident was then laid off because she was unable to cope with the pressures of work.

Shinta (25), a grocery store manager, also experienced heavy pressures at work. Her workload doubled during the emergency public activity restrictions (PPKM Darurat). The policy forced the shop to temporarily close and all transactions shifted online. Shinta grew distraught, especially during the Idul Fitri holiday season and other peak shopping periods.

She was afraid to open her messaging app, worried that the message that came in was work-related.

The resident of Sumedang, West Java, constantly worked overtime. She continued to work after office hours in her rented room until late in the evening. Shinta not only grew exhausted, but also developed difficulty sleeping as a result of anxiety. Every beep of an incoming notification on her cellphone made her anxious. She was afraid to open her messaging app, worried that the message that came in was work-related.

Shinta decided to resign after about six months. She opted for a peaceful life rather than working under constant pressure. It was a risky decision, because it was not easy to find a new job during the Covid-19 pandemic. Today, Shinta is still unemployed.

The Covid-19 pandemic has not only claimed hundreds of thousands of lives. Many people are also struggling as a result of the economic pressure caused by the pandemic. They survive despite the limitations on their remaining hope. (AND/IKI/SKA)

(This article was translated by Kurniawan Siswoko).