Effectiveness of Community-Based Psychosocial Interventions for Post-Disaster Mental Health Recovery in Malalak District, Agam Regency, West Sumatra, Indonesia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.69855/samec.v3i1.680Keywords:
Post-Disaster Mental Health, Psychosocial Intervention, Community Psychosocial Support, Psychological First Aid, Community Resilience, Hydrometeorological DisastersAbstract
Indonesia is a country with a high level of disaster vulnerability, making post-disaster psychological impacts a significant public health challenge that requires continuous management. Limited mental health services and low community mental health literacy highlight the importance of community-based psychosocial interventions. This community service research employed a pre-experimental one-group pretest–posttest design using a community-based participatory approach (CBPA). The study was conducted from January to April 2026 in Malalak District, Agam Regency, West Sumatra, Indonesia. Eighty participants were recruited through purposive sampling. The intervention consisted of mental health psychoeducation, Psychological First Aid (PFA) training, supportive communication exercises, referral mechanism training, and peer-support group formation. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and paired-sample t-test, while qualitative data from observations and participant feedback were analyzed thematically. The findings showed a significant improvement in knowledge scores from 61.25±10.48 to 82.63±8.37 (t=16.84; p<0.001). Participants with high knowledge increased from 15.0% to 70.0%. Psychosocial support capacity also improved across all indicators, particularly in understanding referral mechanisms and PFA principles. Qualitative findings indicated increased awareness, confidence, and the establishment of peer support groups. Community-based psychosocial interventions effectively improved post-disaster mental health knowledge, psychosocial support capacity, and community resilience, demonstrating potential as a sustainable strategy for strengthening mental health in disaster-prone areas.
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