Socialization of the Community Mental Health Implementation Team at the Sub-district/Village Level in West Kotawaringin Regency in 2025

Abstract

Mental health is a vital component of the health system, shaping individual well-being, social stability, and community productivity. Despite its importance, many mental health problems remain undetected, especially in low- and middle- income countries. In Indonesia, the 2018 National Basic Health Survey (Riskesdas) reported a 9.8% prevalence of mental-emotional disorders and 7 per 1000 population experiencing severe mental disorders. These findings highlight the urgent need to strengthen community-based mental health services. This study describes the process and effectiveness of a community engagement–based socialization program to facilitate the formation of TPKJM at lower administrative levels.  Results indicate significant improvement after the intervention. Before the activity, 19.8% of participants were in the “low” knowledge category, 64.1% “moderate,” and 16.0% “high.” After the socialization, no participants remained in the “low” category, with 35.8% in “moderate” and 64.1% achieving “high” understanding. The mean score increased from 79.94 to 86.59, demonstrating enhanced comprehension across sectors. The applied methods—interactive learning, contextual materials, and multisectoral collaboration—proved effective and aligned with community needs. This initiative represents an important step toward improving community mental health governance. Continued capacity-building, monitoring, and regulatory support are recommended to ensure sustainability and long-term impact on mental health outcomes