UNS — The Complementary Alternative Medicine Research Group (RG Camer) Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta assisted foster children and caregivers in a foundation in Solo to reduce the depression level, Tuesday (18/8/2020). The assistance was provided to 15 adolescences and five caregivers in a foundation that serves as a shelter for abandoned children with special needs. The Chief of Camer Research Group, Erindra Budi Cahyanto, M.Kes. stated that his team assisted the caregivers and foster children using the Spiritual Emotional Freedom Technique (SEFT).
During their shelter in, RG Camer found many problems faced by the foster children. They suffer from terminal illnesses and psychological and social problems because they experience rejection from the community around their previous residence. This encourages RG Camer to participate in solving problem, particularly in term of their psychosocial health, to improve self-confidence and self-acceptance. Erindra Budi Cahyanto, M.Kes explained that SEFT is selected based on the result of research which proves the effectiveness of SEFT method in improving mental health.
The benefits of SEFT method, among others reducing depression and anxiety, improve sleep quality, reduce phobias or fright on harmless situation or goods, and improve the ability to escape unpleasant experiences. At the initial stage, RG Camer demonstrated and trained the foster children and caregiver to perform SEFT. Then they were asked to try SEFT independently under the supervision from RG Camer team and a psychologist certified as SEFT training.
“The next stage is evaluating by comparing the stress and depression scores before and after the assistance,” Erindra Budi Cahyanto, M.Kes. explained.
From the SEFT assistance, RG Camer started to see a decrease in caregiver and foster children depression level. Thirteen participants succeeded in reducing their depression level. Even after showing an improvement, the participants were asked to apply the SEFT method regularly. The member of RG Camer, Ika Sumiyarsi, S.SiT, M.Kes. and Mujahidatul Musfiroh M.Si.Med. added that there is three keys success of SEFT; solemn, sincere, and resigned. Solemn means participants must fully concentrate on heart and thought asking help from God. Sincere means accepting all difficulties from God, and resigned is an action which believes that the result of all actions is in God’s hands and God knows the best. Humas UNS
Reporter: Yefta Christopherus AS
Editor: Dwi Hastuti
