The APRESIASI project is a collaborative research project between Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and Universitas Padjadjaran (Unpad) that focuses on adapting Self-Help Plus (SH+), a group-based intervention developed by the World Health Organization (WHO), to the cultural context of university students in Indonesia. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of SH+ in improving the mental health of university students.
SH+ will be tested at two universities in West Java, namely Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB) and Universitas Padjadjaran (Unpad). Students from these two universities will be recruited to participate in this research project.
Background
Depression, stress, and anxiety are common psychological symptoms experienced by university students in Indonesia. These symptoms can be caused by academic difficulties, conflicts with friends, difficulties in managing time, and difficulties in adjusting to university life. Psychological distress can cause obstacles in carrying out daily activities.
Program Description
SH+ is a group-based stress management course with 20-30 participants guided by two trained facilitators. The course consists of five weekly sessions of 90-100 minutes each. Participants will focus on learning stress management through two main components: a book titled “Apa yang Penting Dilakukan pada Saat Stres: sebuah ilustrasi bergambar” and audio instructions. The program is based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).
Benefits
By participating in the APRESIASI project, students will also learn more about their mental health. Students also have the opportunity to participate in a stress management course to improve their ability to deal with stress. Students will also be able to contribute to science, in particular by providing scientific evidence related to the effectiveness of a psychological intervention on the mental health of the students themselves.
TEAM
- Prof. dr. Marit Sijbrandij, Full Professor
- Dr. Fredrick Dermawan Purba, Associate Professor, Faculty of Psychology, Padjadjaran University
- Dr. Anke B. Witteveen, Assistant Professor
- Dhini Andriani, PhD Candidate
