A total of 3,000 participants from across Indonesia took part in the Orientation on Psychological First Aid for Psychological Wounds (P3LP) in Schools for Guidance and Counseling (BK) teachers, held on Wednesday–Thursday, April 22–23, 2026, from 07.30–13.00 WIB. The event was conducted online via Zoom and live streamed on YouTube, as an effort to strengthen the role of schools in promoting mental health as well as enhancing the capacity of BK teachers to provide initial psychological support in crisis situations.

Yogyakarta, 3 February 2026 – A study entitled “The psychological preparedness of at-risk Indonesian communities to disaster (PREPARED) scale: Validation and norm development,” authored by Pradytia Putri Pertiwi et al. and published in Acta Psychologica (Vol. 262), provides an important contribution to the measurement of psychological preparedness for disasters among Indonesian communities. To date, disaster preparedness initiatives in Indonesia have largely emphasized physical and material aspects, while the psychological dimension has received relatively little attention, despite evidence showing that psychological preparedness is associated with better stress management and a reduced risk of post-disaster mental health problems.

Nevi Kurnia Arianti, S.Psi., M.Si., has officially earned her doctoral degree from the Faculty of Psychology, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), after successfully completing her Open Dissertation Defense in the Doctoral Program in Psychology on Tuesday (January 13) at Room A203, Faculty of Psychology UGM. In the session, she graduated as UGM’s 7,092nd doctoral graduate after defending her dissertation titled “Profiles and Strategies of Community-Based Psychosocial Support for Volunteers in Multi-Hazard Disaster-Prone Areas in Yogyakarta.”

The Faculty of Psychology, Universitas Gadjah Mada, through the Center for Public Mental Health (CPMH), continues its humanitarian support for communities affected by flash floods in Aceh. Following the delivery process and coordination with local partners, assistance in the form of dignity kits and other essential items has been received and directly distributed to residents in several affected areas in North Aceh.

Commemorating its 61st anniversary on January 8, 2026, the Faculty of Psychology of Universitas Gadjah Mada adopts the theme “Psychology in Synergy Toward a Resilient and Prosperous Nation.” This spirit is not merely a slogan, but a tangible reflection embodied in a series of reputable international scientific publications produced by the academic community of the Faculty of Psychology UGM over the past year. We have compiled these publications as a “special gift” that highlights the Faculty’s contributions across three main pillars: global mental health, Indonesian local wisdom, and disaster resilience.

The Faculty of Psychology at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), through the Center for Public Mental Health (CPMH), has implemented a series of psychosocial support programs for communities affected by floods and landslides in Aceh. Supported by Emergency Disaster Response Community Service Funding for the Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra regions from the Directorate of Research and Community Service (DPPM) of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, the program is designed to address the urgent mental health recovery needs of survivors while strengthening long-term psychosocial support systems at the community and local government levels.

Diana Setiyawati, S.Psi., MHSc., Ph.D., Psikolog, a lecturer at the Faculty of Psychology, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), is one of the grantees of the Community Service Program for Emergency Disaster Response in the Provinces of Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra funded by the Directorate of Research and Community Service (DPPM), Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology. She received funding for a program entitled “Integrated Psychosocial Recovery Program for Communities Affected by Floods in Sumatra.”

Pradytia Putri Pertiwi, S.Psi., Ph.D, a lecturer at the Faculty of Psychology, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), was invited by the American Red Cross through the Global Disaster Preparedness Center (GDPC) to present her research on the inclusivity and actionability of volcanic hazard Early Warning Systems (EWS) for persons with disabilities (PwD) in Indonesia. The study has been published on the GDPC–American Red Cross platform under the title “Inclusivity and actionability of volcanic hazard Early Warning System in Indonesia: Perspectives of persons with disabilities”.

Sheilla Varadhila Peristianto, M.Psi., Psikolog, successfully earned her doctoral degree at the open defense of the Doctoral Program in Psychology, Universitas Gadjah Mada, on Tuesday (19/08). Her dissertation, titled “The Concept of Rasa Rumangsa and Its Relation to the Subjective Burden of Families Caring for Individuals with Schizophrenia”, marked her as the 6,672nd doctoral graduate of UGM.

The Faculty of Psychology at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), in collaboration with TVRI Yogyakarta, presented the sixth episode of the program OPSI: Obrolan Psikologi (Psychological Talks), which aired on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, from 3:00 to 4:00 PM (WIB). This episode carried the theme "Beyond Nature, Beyond Network: Building Mental Resilience," highlighting the connection between nature-based activities and psychological endurance.

The theme was chosen in response to the rising pressures of modern life, which is fast-paced, highly competitive, and filled with demands. Amid the relentless digital world, reconnecting with nature offers a way to calm the mind and restore inner strength. Outdoor activities not only provide peace but also help sharpen one’s ability to face challenges with patience, calmness, and mindfulness.