This article analyzes the Psychology journal, Volume 32, No. 2, December 2005, published by the Faculty of Psychology, UGM, titled Social Dimensions of Mental Disability in the Samin Community, Yogyakarta: A Social Representation Approach, written by Petra W. B. Prakosa. Mental disability has recently become a central issue for healthcare and education providers in Indonesia.
The importance of mental health services in general has been emphasized in mental health policies for the 2001-2005 period (Kompas in Petra, 2005). The Semin sub-district community in this study is viewed as a) a geographical area with physical boundaries defined for administrative purposes (Willmott in Petra, 2005); b) a neighborhood that can be interpreted as a sense of community ownership (Cohen in Petra, 2005); and c) a space for political communication where conventions resulting from that communication occur (Jovhelovitch in Petra, 2005).
Mental disability in Psychology is described based on problems manifested as limitations in psychological and social functions (AAMR in Petra, 2005). Individuals with mental disabilities bear stigma due to their imperfections, which marginalizes them from full social acceptance, potentially leading to the formation of a damaged social identity. A study by Westbrook et al.
revealed that negative social attitudes often manifest as barriers to performing social roles and activities, as well as accessing community services. It was also revealed that individuals with mental disabilities are more stigmatized compared to those with physical disabilities. Research Methods This study employed a case study design, allowing researchers to view mental disability as a unit of analysis (Flick et al.
in Petra, 2005) by interviewing twenty subjects. Results The social representation of mental disability forms a knowledge system consisting of three organizers: 1. Social representation of mental disability in the Semin community. Knowledge in the form of professional and community social representation, the social identity of individuals with mental disabilities which determines social practices such as pity as a contradictory attitude, professional orientative attitudes towards mental disability programs, and community coping strategies.
2. Pity as a contradictory social attitude. Pity is a form of social representation of individuals with mental disabilities (Farr in Petra, 2005). Positive attitudes are seen in sympathy and empathy. A collective community orientation creates a conducive environment, even though stigma remains unavoidable and appears in everyday expressions like ‘stupid,’ which limits individuals with mental disabilities from communicating effectively.
3. Professional orientation for mental disability programs. The implementation of roles in health and education programs, such as special needs schools, is one example.