Five students of Universitas Brawijaya (UB), namely Hayatin Sapitri (FP), Anton Meilus Putra (FP), Ninda Rahayuningtyas (FP), Andika Riyan Saputra (FISIP) and Alya Jauza Rahmayanti (FISIP) under the guidance of Rachman Hartono, SP., MP conducted research to determine the potential for reducing stress levels and improving the mental health of the people of Malang City during the pandemic with gardening activities.
This research was conducted in 40 hamlets spread over 10 villages and 5 sub districts in Malang City.
The selected villages are Sumbersari Village, Ketawanggede Village (Lowokwaru District), Purwantoro and Purwodadi Villages (Blimbing District), Klojen Village and Sukoharjo Village (Klojen District), Lesanpuro Village and Kedungkandang Village (Kedungkandang District), Tanjungrejo Village and Sukun Village (Sukun District).
This research was carried out from June 20, 2021 to July 7, 2021 by distributing questionnaires through the head of the hamlets.
Based on the survey, it was found that gardening activities can improve mental health, reduce stress, and improve sleep quality.
“Based on the survey we have done, gardening activities have various benefits, including as a place for refreshing, accommodating physical activity, reducing boredom, and as a source of healthy food. In addition, if people carry out intensive gardening activities, it can improve mental health, reduce stress, and improve sleep quality,” said one of the team representatives, Hayatin Sapitri.
Hayatin added that this could be realized well if the community provided less than 10% of land for gardening and carried out intensive gardening activities ranging from planting, caring, to harvesting.
“Our activities get funding from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia in the Student Creativity Week for Humanities Research (PKM RH) and fight to represent Universitas Brawijaya towards PIMNAS 34,” said Hayatin.
Mental health has a big impact during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Association of Indonesian Mental Health Specialists (PDSKJI) stated that 1,522 people had mental health problems due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Meanwhile, data from the Ministry of Health recorded 277,000 mental health cases in Indonesia in 2020. This mental health case has increased compared to 2019 which was 197,000 people.
Meanwhile, based on data from the COVID-19 Task Force, it was stated that as many as 5,770 people in Malang City were affected by COVID-19 and thousands of workers were laid off or quarantined. (HYT/Humas UB/ Trans. Iir).
