Indonesia: Jakarta - World Mental Health Day

In order to celebrate World Mental Health Day in October and GCC’ Action Month for Public Health in December, Indonesian Youth Health Ambassadors (IYHA) and Global Citizen Corps Indonesia (GCC Indonesia) paid a visit to Panti Tuna Grahita Belaian Kasih in Kalideres, a home for the children with special needs in West Jakarta.The event was called CHA(i)RITY FOR KIDS and was held on the 20th of November 2011 with 22 participants (16 attending and 6 passive donators).

Dea Safira (www.deabasori.com), the Coordinator of this action campaign decided to plan an action which consisting of drawing and coloring on a white chair. Dea was inspired from Jane Aldridge’s Charity for Branded with the same kind of activity. Fundraising was held to purchase two white chairs and two sets of permanent markers. The aim of this event was to increase awareness about the children with special needs and break down barriers using a fun and communicative approach. Mental health as public health issue is very important. Center for Disease Control stated that mental health is integral to overall health and well-being and should be treated with the same urgency as physical health.

Among 90 children with special needs, there were only 10-15 children who could participate due to their condition but that did not stop the participants from having fun with the children. GCC Indonesia and IYHA hope that the participants will be able to understand children mental health issue through this action campaign. Many participants said that this event were very memorable and they going to share their experience with other people.