FPSI UIN Jakarta holds international webinar on religion and mental health

FPSI, UIN News Online – The Faculty of Psychology (FPSI) UIN Jakarta holds international webinar entitled “The Role of Psychology in Promoting Mental Health and Psychological Well Being” on Thursday (10/15/2020).

Moderated by Herdian Maulana, the webinar invites Vikas Michear (India), Nazariah Sharle Janon (Malaysia) and Subandi (Indonesia) as keynote speakers. Also present in the event, The Rector of UIN Jakarta Amany Lubis and the Dean of FPSI UIN Jakarta Zahrotun Nihayah.

In her welcoming remarks, the Rector of UIN Jakarta Amany Lubis stated that Islam is full of mental health teachings. Therefore, it is necessary to further develop how mental health concepts and practices based on Islam can contribute significantly in the field of mental health. She also explained that on the same day, UIN Jakarta also opened a Center for Scientific Integration Study as a form of the university's seriousness in developing the integration of science and religious study on this campus.

In line with the Rector, Dean of FPSI UIN Jakarta Zahrotun Nihayah mentioned that the Faculty of Psychology is very concerned with the issue of the integration of religion and science. Therefore, during her leadership, FPSI UIN Jakarta opened two study centers that illustrate the spirit of integration of psychology and Islam, namely The Center of Applied Psychotherapy chaired by Bahrul Hayat,, and The Center of Islamic Psychology, chaired by Abdul Mujib.

One of the speakers, Subandi from Indonesia explained about how Sufism contributed to improving mental health. He explained about the Suryalaya Islamic Boarding School which developed the practice of Sufism as a therapy in dealing with various cases of mental health disorders such as depression.

According to Subandi, There are many similarities between the practice of Sufism which is usually termed a tarekat which is structurally similar to a higher education institution or university. For example, murshids in tarekat institutions are equivalent to professors in higher education institutions, badal is equivalent to lecturers, and the term spiritual maqam is equivalent to educational levels such as undergraduate, master and doctoral degrees.

He further explained further explained that there are similarities between the structure of the tarekat and the structure of psychotherapy. In Subandi's point of view, Murshid is a therapist, badal is the same as a co-therapist, student is a client, the rituals that are usually carried out in the tarekat are identical to psychotherapy techniques, including spiritual maqom equivalent to the level of advancement of therapy. He also emphasized that tarekat can be an alternative to improve mental health and at the same time overcome various mental health problems that occur in society. (usa/fpsi)