The Center for Public Mental Health (CPMH) at the Faculty of Psychology, Universitas Gadjah Mada, once again demonstrated its commitment to improving mental health and disability literacy among adolescents through the organization of the Adolescent Mental Stability Advocate Competition (AMSAC) Vol. 2. Carrying the theme “Breaking Barriers, Opening Opportunities: Realizing a Generation that Cares about Mental Health and Disabilities,” this year’s AMSAC series took place from April 10 to May 25, 2025, with the main event held at Joglo GIK UGM.
AMSAC Vol. 2 was designed as a platform for junior and senior high school students from across Indonesia to express their concern and ideas on mental health and disability issues. Through various creative competitions such as essay writing, digital poster design, reels, and short story contests, participants were encouraged to highlight the role of youth in building inclusive environments, fostering appreciation for mental health warriors, and breaking down the negative stigma that still exists in society. All submissions were collected online from April 20 to May 4, 2025, and the enthusiasm was evident with around 200 participants taking part.
Beyond the competitions, AMSAC Vol. 2 also featured a series of educational and advocacy activities involving experts in the fields of mental health and disability. The WeHealth Webinar was one of the most anticipated sessions, where speakers such as Dr. Putri from the Ministry of Health, Mrs. Diana Setiyawati, M.HSc.Psy., Ph.D., Psychologist from CPMH, and Mrs. Dian A. Puspitaningrum from the Wahana Keluarga Cerebral Palsy (WKCP) shared insights on current issues and challenges faced by people with disabilities and those living with mental health conditions. In addition, the First Aid for Psychological Wounds (P3LP) campaign provided practical education to participants on how to offer initial support for psychological problems.
The peak of AMSAC Vol. 2, held on May 24, 2025, was filled with a variety of engaging activities, including seminars, literacy competitions, the P3LP campaign, and an advocacy forum involving representatives from the Regional House of Representatives (DPRD), communities, and mental health organizations. On this occasion, mental health screenings were also conducted by the Ministry of Health and the Sleman District Health Office, as a tangible form of concern for adolescent mental health.
Collaboration was key to the success of AMSAC Vol. 2. CPMH worked together with Sekolah Masa Depan as co-organizer and facility provider, and received support from the Ministry of Health, WKCP, KPSI, Bipolar Community, and DPRD. The finalists of the mental health and disability literacy competition came from SMAN 3 Yogyakarta, SMA Muhammadiyah 1 Yogyakarta, and Olifant High School, with SMAN 3 Yogyakarta emerging as the overall winner.
Through AMSAC Vol. 2, CPMH at the Faculty of Psychology UGM hopes to continue encouraging young people to be more caring, inclusive, and empowered regarding mental health and disability issues. The active participation of adolescents and cross-institutional collaboration are expected to be the first steps toward a society that is more mentally healthy and disability-friendly.
Writer: Raden Roro Anisa Anggi Dinda