FK Online News – To support students in managing the demanding nature of medical education, the Faculty of Medicine at UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta provides supporting facilities for student activities, including the Counseling Unit and P3KS, the Center for the Prevention and Handling of Sexual Violence (Pusat Pencegahan dan Penanganan Kekerasan Seksual). The unit is headed by Sophie Dwiyanti, S.Psi., Psi.

Sophie Dwiyanti, S.Psi., Psi., explained that parents play an important role in students’ lives, particularly as a focal point in providing support. She also explained that mental health is closely related to an individual’s ability to understand themselves.

“To take one definition that we can use, a mentally healthy person is someone who is aware of their own abilities. They are aware of their ability to recognize emotions and understand how to manage them,” she said.

Sophie Dwiyanti added that the demanding nature of medical education, including a workload of up to 70 credits and various progress tests, can contribute to students’ mental health challenges. She emphasized that mental health difficulties are not always visible.

“Students do not always directly say when they are experiencing difficulties. It is something that may not be visible. However, students may actually be dealing with something that they are keeping to themselves and that may be weighing on them,” she said.

She further emphasized that mental health conditions are not always reflected in a student’s physical appearance. Students may appear physically healthy and show no obvious signs of difficulty, while experiencing different conditions internally. Sophie also encouraged parents to pay attention to changes in their children’s daily habits.

“Parents need to check their habits. Look at their sleep patterns; whether they are sleeping too much or too little. We also need to pay attention to their eating habits,” she advised.

As the unit responsible for addressing students’ mental health concerns, Sophie, as the head of P3KS, continues to encourage parents to pay attention to and motivate their children throughout their medical education. Sensitivity to changes in students’ conditions is also important, as they may sometimes show signs of mental health difficulties to their parents.

“Some signs are often overlooked. Be careful when your child says, ‘I’m tired.’ But if you really listen and they say, ‘I can’t take it anymore,’ it means they should not be forced to continue,” she said.

Sophie also presented research findings on students’ help-seeking behavior. In the context of student mental health, the term refers to how students seek assistance when they are experiencing problems or feel that they need support.

To address mental health concerns and cases of sexual violence among students at the Faculty of Medicine, UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, Sophie encouraged parents and the academic community to maintain active communication. Students are encouraged to seek support through Academic Advisors, the Counseling Unit, social relationships with peers, and their families, particularly their parents.

(MA/NIS)