The Policy Review Related to Supporting Families of People with Mental Health Problems in Indonesia

Abstract

Government policies and legislation can in fl uence the mental health of the population, including the families of people with serious mental illnesses. Recently, mental health policies in Indonesia have focused on human right of the individuals with mental illnesses, and this may explain why there has been little emphasis on supporting families in Indonesia. A policy review was conducted to identify the government guidance related to the directives for mental health services to support the families of people with serious mental illnesses in the country. A systematic review approach was undertaken for 16 relevant documents related to policies, standards, and guidelines of mental health services for the families of people with serious mental illnesses in Indonesia. The fi ndings of this policy review suggest that there are signi fi cant challenges for mental health services in Indonesia to support the families on behalf of their needs and wellbeing. The crux of the matter is that there have been policies that should be useful to professional, families and services users, yet problems to access these documents may exist. The information from the policy review can enhance the understanding about current mental health services in Indonesia. It is also a valuable source to direct an investigation about what Indonesian families want from the services. This study expects recommendations to respond to the needs which are practical and realistic based on the country’s own limitations in terms of policy support and information access.