The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic has triggered challenges in many countries, including Indonesia, where its citizens are required to follow better health standards and new normal habits. Seeing this, Master of Psychology of Universitas Muhammadiyah Malang held an International Guest Lecture in collaboration with Dr. Agnes del Rosario Crisostomo from Bulacan State University of the Philippines. This guest lecture aimed to observe how the Philippines is coping with mental challenges amid the pandemic.
This pandemic has had a profound impact on economic conditions, which further might impact the mental health of the community. In fact, mental health is the third and largest wave attacking humans after the physical health crisis and the economic crisis. It is publicly known that Indonesia and the Philippines are the two Southeast Asian countries with the most Covid-19 cases. This is quite concerning where the large number of Covid-19 cases in both countries has been a warning to improve public health quality. Citizens of both countries need to be educated to maintain positive attitude and strong mental health in this pandemic.
Martin Seligman, an expert in the study of mental health, happiness, strength of character, and optimism, has suggested that Positive Psychology is one of the keys to survive this pandemic. Positive Psychology teaches us how to be resilient, in which resiliency can regulate our positive feelings to get through the hardest times.
Further, Seligman explained that resiliency can be developed by fixing our sense of routine. We need to make daily plans, weekly plans, and monthly plans, where our lives will be more programmed, concluded with the evaluations useful for daily improvement. A daily journal to record the carried-out activities and feelings is also useful to keep track. They act as a medium of catharsis. After completing daily activities, we are suggested to have outdoor activities and leisure walk outside as a reward. It is required to maintain positive attitude and reduce anxiety.
However, this pandemic limits our ability to release tensions through outdoor activities. Following this, Dr. Crisostomo suggested Butterfly Hug as an alternative technique to apply Positive Psychology. This technique is useful in this pandemic where things become uncertain and the outdoor activities to reduce anxiety are limited. Acting as a guest lecture, Dr. Crisostomo guided the seminar’s participant to practice the Butterfly Hug. This technique can be done at anytime and anywhere by anyone. It can calm us down when we are sad, angry, or hurt for hugging ourselves help to regulate peaceful mind, and telling ourselves that everything will be okay.
Dr. Iswinarti, the head of Master of Science of Psychology, confirmed that the topic of this guest lecture was chosen to be especially relevant to today’s condition. Entitled “Positive Psychology in Pandemic”, she expected that the given information will be useful for everyone to survive this hard time. Subtle similarities between Indonesia and the Philippines are additional advantages where both countries can learn from and support each other.
"I hope this guest lecture will the quality of our teaching and learning process. It surely gives us insight from international perspectives, delivered by foreign experts. I surely hope this event accelerate UMM’s internationalization program, particularly with Bulacan State University in the future " concluded she. (TIK/DIK)
Directorate of Postgraduate Programs
