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Articles

Youth Posyandu as a Space for Mental Health Promotion: A Participant-Centered Study in Urban Communities

Authors

  • Olih Solihin Universitas Komputer Indonesia
  • Rina Sovianti Universitas Bunda Mulia
  • Hilarius Bambang Winarko Universitas Bunda Mulia
Published October 23, 2026 pp. 1-14 doi.org/10.62872/o.v3i5.643 CC BY-SA 4.0
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Abstract

Indonesian adolescents carry a substantial mental health burden, yet only a small fraction of those with a diagnosable disorder use any support service. Youth Posyandu (Posyandu Remaja), a cadre-run community health post, has been proposed as a low-threshold platform for closing this gap, but evidence on how young participants themselves experience it remains scattered. This study synthesizes participant-centered evidence on Youth Posyandu as a space for mental health promotion in urban and peri-urban communities. Using a qualitative evidence synthesis guided by reflexive thematic analysis and the socioecological model, we analyzed 19 studies published between 2024 and 2026: ten Indonesian Posyandu studies, six international youth-led programs, and three reviews. Four themes emerged: (1) literacy gains through cadre training and interactive education; (2) cultural normalization that reframes mental health as an ordinary community routine; (3) peer-mediated reinforcement that sustains participation; and (4) a persistent literacy-to-help-seeking gap shaped by cadre overload, passive participation, time poverty, gender norms, and the absence of funded referral pathways. The findings indicate that Youth Posyandu works best as a socially embedded entry point rather than a stand-alone intervention. Its effectiveness depends on continuous cadre mentoring, youth co-leadership, and structured referral links with community health centers (Puskesmas). The study proposes a participant-centered integration model to guide local health offices and community program designers

Keywords

Youth Posyanduadolescent mental healthmental health promotionpeer supportcommunity healthurban indonesia

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Copyright (c) 2026 Olih Solihin, Rina Sovianti, Hilarius Bambang Winarko · CC BY-SA 4.0

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