Perceived causes of mental illness and views on appropriate care pathways among Indonesians.

Colonial mental health care Colonial society Indonesia Low and middle-income countries Mental health perceptions Public perception Qualitative study

Journal

International journal of mental health systems
ISSN: 1752-4458
Titre abrégé: Int J Ment Health Syst
Pays: England
ID NLM: 101294224

Informations de publication

Date de publication:
23 Sep 2021
Historique:
received: 11 08 2020
accepted: 13 09 2021
entrez: 24 9 2021
pubmed: 25 9 2021
medline: 25 9 2021
Statut: epublish

Résumé

The mental health system in Indonesia comprises attempts to modernise a colonial relic. There is still a disconnect between available services and help-seeking behaviours at the grassroots level. This study aims to explore the perceptions of Javanese people on the aetiology of mental illness and their ideas on how to deal with individuals who may have mental illness. This qualitative study involves semi-structured interviews, embedded in a cluster randomised trial examining the clinical and cost-effectiveness of primary mental health services. Interviews were conducted with Indonesian and Javanese. The recruitment procedure was aligned to the trial. Participants were primary care patients recruited from 21 sites across Yogyakarta province. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and translated into English. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the interview transcripts. 75 participants took part in the study: 51 women (68%) and 24 men (32%). Key themes emerged around perceived causes of mental health problems (including 'extrinsic factors'; 'intrinsic factors'; and 'spiritual factors'), and perceived appropriate pathways of care ('modern medical science'; 'social support and activities'; and 'religious or spiritual interventions'). Gender potentially influenced some of the responses. Themes indicate the variety of preconceptions towards mental health problems and assumptions regarding the best management pathways. Some of these preconceptions and assumptions support the utility of modern medical care, while the rest promote spiritual or religious healers. Participants' ideas of the appropriate care pathways largely correspond to their perception of what the symptoms are caused by. Despite hints to some understanding of the bio-psycho-social model of mental illness, most participants did not capture the complexity of mental health and illness, indicating the importance of contextual (especially culturally and religiously-aligned) public education around mental health, illness and care.

Sections du résumé

BACKGROUND BACKGROUND
The mental health system in Indonesia comprises attempts to modernise a colonial relic. There is still a disconnect between available services and help-seeking behaviours at the grassroots level. This study aims to explore the perceptions of Javanese people on the aetiology of mental illness and their ideas on how to deal with individuals who may have mental illness.
METHODS METHODS
This qualitative study involves semi-structured interviews, embedded in a cluster randomised trial examining the clinical and cost-effectiveness of primary mental health services. Interviews were conducted with Indonesian and Javanese. The recruitment procedure was aligned to the trial. Participants were primary care patients recruited from 21 sites across Yogyakarta province. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and translated into English. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the interview transcripts.
RESULTS RESULTS
75 participants took part in the study: 51 women (68%) and 24 men (32%). Key themes emerged around perceived causes of mental health problems (including 'extrinsic factors'; 'intrinsic factors'; and 'spiritual factors'), and perceived appropriate pathways of care ('modern medical science'; 'social support and activities'; and 'religious or spiritual interventions'). Gender potentially influenced some of the responses.
CONCLUSIONS CONCLUSIONS
Themes indicate the variety of preconceptions towards mental health problems and assumptions regarding the best management pathways. Some of these preconceptions and assumptions support the utility of modern medical care, while the rest promote spiritual or religious healers. Participants' ideas of the appropriate care pathways largely correspond to their perception of what the symptoms are caused by. Despite hints to some understanding of the bio-psycho-social model of mental illness, most participants did not capture the complexity of mental health and illness, indicating the importance of contextual (especially culturally and religiously-aligned) public education around mental health, illness and care.

Identifiants

pubmed: 34556137
doi: 10.1186/s13033-021-00497-5
pii: 10.1186/s13033-021-00497-5
pmc: PMC8461980
doi:

Types de publication

Journal Article

Langues

eng

Pagination

74

Subventions

Organisme : Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
ID : OPP1144
Organisme : Department of Social Anthropology, University of Cambridge
ID : Evans Fund

Informations de copyright

© 2021. The Author(s).

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Auteurs

Sabrina Gabrielle Anjara (SG)

Cambridge Public Health, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Forvie Site, Robinson Way, Box 113, Cambridge, CB2 0SR, UK. sabrina.anjara@gmail.com.

Carol Brayne (C)

Cambridge Public Health, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Forvie Site, Robinson Way, Box 113, Cambridge, CB2 0SR, UK.

Tine Van Bortel (T)

Cambridge Public Health, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Forvie Site, Robinson Way, Box 113, Cambridge, CB2 0SR, UK.
Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, De Montfort University, Leicester, LE2 7GZ, UK.

Classifications MeSH