It’s Okay to Feel Not Okay

Jakarta, 14 June—Motivated by a shared concern for youth mental well-being, our international students, Hani F. Carab, a final-year student at Creative Digital Communication program from Somalia, was joined by fellow Somalia students, Abdiqani A. Jibril, and Najma A. Mohamed, both majoring in Computer Science, as well as Lorenz A.S. Martinez from the Philippines, who is studying International Business, took the lead in organizing “Speak Your Peace: A Mind & Mic Gathering,” an interactive workshop held in collaboration with the youth community of LARP (Live Action Role Play) Base Bekasi. 

With over 20 participants, including domestic workers and students, the event created a warm, open space to share personal stories and emotional struggles.  This workshop brought together workers from the Jakarta area, offering them a rare opportunity to voice the challenges they face, many of which go unheard at work. To ensure they felt heard and supported, a psychologist was also invited. 

“Sometimes, you don’t know how much you’re holding until someone else speaks your truth,” said one of the volunteers. 

Guided by a professional therapist, the session began with silent reflection, helping participants explore what they’ve carried inside, before opening up to share their stories. 

(Photo Credit: Marcelino Yappy/Photo Editor: Mufti Warits)

“It felt okay to cry. Okay, to be soft. Okay to just be,” expressed one of LARP members.  

Mental health struggles often go unspoken, especially among domestic workers, who face unique forms of stress and isolation. Many carry the weight of multiple roles, responsibilities, and silent battles.  

There has been a sharp increase in mental health problems among Indonesians, growing from 19 million in 2018 to more than 50 million people (or 20% of the population) by 2023 (Basrowi et al., 2024). 

This gathering created a platform for shared experiences, reinforcing the message that well-being is a collective journey. Erlangga as a LARP member shared his experience that “This kind of activity is very helpful for the development of our children.” 

This meaningful initiative illustrates the power of community engagement and empathy in action. Thanks to our students’ heartfelt commitment, this event creates a positive impact for society and sets an example for more Binusians to take an active role in community development and social responsibility efforts. 

(Words by: Mita Adhisti & Hamzah Ramadhan/Editor: Hamzah Ramadhan)