A Bipolar Survivor’s Calling to Help Individuals with Mental and Psychosocial Disabilities
Having the opportunity to study in Australia felt like a dream come true for Nurhayati Ratna Sari Dewi, who’s been serving as the Head of the Indonesia Mental Health Association (IMHA) Jakarta Branch since 2021. Dewi was one of 22 participants in the Australia Awards Short Course on the 'Role of Government and Organisations for People with Disabilities (OPDs) in the Implementation of Policy Reform for Inclusive Development', held by the University of Sydney in 2023.
"I deeply appreciate the AAS for offering opportunities to everyone, including individuals like me with psychosocial disabilities," she added.
Advocating for Disability Rights as a Bipolar Survivor
Having experienced the bitterness of discrimination, Dewi felt compelled to fight for the rights of individuals living with psychosocial disabilities, including anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia. In 2017, she began actively participating in Bipolar Care Indonesia, a peer support group aimed at providing mutual support for people with bipolar disorder. To this day, Dewi continues to campaign for the rights of individuals with psychosocial and mental disabilities as the Head of IMHA Jakarta Branch.
Dewi believes her experience in the recent Short Course significantly broadened her perspective, particularly through interactions with fellow participants.
"Meeting Short Course colleagues from diverse backgrounds expanded my understanding, allowing me to see disability issues from different angles, such as the government’s perspective. It’s incredible to see how Australia provided an equal opportunity for individuals with physical and intellectual disabilities to pursue tertiary education." Dewi explained.
Helping People with Disabilities Access Free Healthcare
For her Award Project, Dewi formed a team with participants from government agencies and disability activists. They decided to assist individuals with disabilities in Kemusu, Boyolali, Central Java to access BPJS Kesehatan in the Contribution Assistance Recipients (PBI) category subsidised by government. From January to April 2023, Dewi and her team coordinated and held discussions with local authorities, and met with individuals with severe disabilities in Kemusu.
Through their Award Project, Dewi and her team successfully helped approximately 100 individuals with physical and intellectual disabilities in Kemusu gain BPJS PBI membership. Inspired by the Award Project during the Short Course, Dewi is now working to advocate for similar initiatives in Jakarta.
"We are conducting advocacy through Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) on a draft gubernatorial regulation (Rapergub). At IMHA Jakarta Branch, we are urging the Jakarta Provincial Government to include people with disabilities under the BPJS PBI scheme," Dewi explained.
Challenging Discriminatory Laws
During the Short Course, Dewi took the opportunity to rally support from her fellow participants for a Judicial Review she and IMHA Indonesia had filed with the Constitutional Court (MK). The Judicial Review challenges Article 433 of the Indonesian Civil Code (KUHPerdata) on the grounds that it is discriminatory and harmful to individuals with mental disabilities.
"The Judicial Review was decided by the Constitutional Court in March 2023 through Decision Number 93/PUU-XX/2022. It declared that not all individuals with disabilities must be placed under guardianship, affirming that we, as persons with disabilities, have the same legal rights," Dewi said.
Long after completing the Short Course, Dewi continues to maintain communication with other participants. Dewi shared how she was invited by her fellow Short Course participant, Martina Natatinova Simanjuntak from the Ministry of Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform, to provide input on the Ministerial Regulation on the Provision of Vulnerable-Group-Friendly Public Services from the perspective of individuals with psychosocial disabilities.
"Although the Short Course was brief, it was an incredibly valuable experience for me. I was also amazed to see how much the AAS values its alumni, as we are always invited to AAS events, even if we are only Short Course alumni," Dewi said.
