The Faculty of Dentistry at Universitas Gadjah Mada (FKG UGM) remains committed to improving the mental health of all members of its academic community. One of its initiatives is the provision of psychological consultation services for students, lecturers, and educational staff.
The service operates under the Health Promoting University (HPU) “Senyum” Unit of FKG UGM. The Head of HPU Senyum, drg. Tjut Intan Permata Sari, Sp.P.M., stated that the unit is now collaborating with an external partner, Art Healing, to provide free and confidential psychological assistance.
According to drg. Tjut Intan, the service was introduced as a preventive measure in response to the growing trend of mental health issues within academic environments.
“This first collaboration with an external party was intentionally designed to create a sense of comfort. We realize that individuals within the academic community often have concerns regarding confidentiality if they have to share their problems with internal campus parties,” she explained on 8 May.
Through this collaboration, Art Healing provides nine professional psychologists who are available daily to serve members of the academic community. The registration mechanism has also been designed to be simple and confidential. Service users only need to complete a form distributed at various strategic locations throughout the FKG UGM campus.
Art Healing will later assess incoming complaints and direct clients to psychologists whose expertise best matches their needs, such as educational psychology for lecturers’ specific issues or clinical treatment for students.
In addition to providing external psychologists, drg. Tjut Intan added that FKG UGM is also planning continuous improvements to its internal support system. Currently, the faculty is revitalizing the main duties and functions of Academic Advisors (DPA) and Counseling Guidance (BK) in coordination with the Vice Dean for Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, and Human Resources. There is also a plan to recruit new counseling staff closer in age to students in order to facilitate communication and approachability.
At the end of her statement, drg. Tjut Intan encouraged members of the FKG UGM academic community not to hesitate to use these mental health facilities. She also urged everyone within the faculty environment to care for one another and encourage those in need of help to seek assistance immediately.
“Psychological services outside campus are usually expensive and involve long waiting lists. At HPU FKG UGM, we provide this facility free of charge. You simply register through ugm.id/HPUSenyumMental, and the schedule will be adjusted accordingly. So, don’t hesitate to make use of it,” she concluded.
Author: Fajar Budi Harsakti
Photo: Freepik
