[unpad.ac.id, 19/11/2020] Students are categorized as being susceptible to mental illness. Such a condition not only disrupts their academic performance but can also worsen their physical and mental well-being. In the worst case, an untreated bout of mental disorder can lead to the sufferers harming themselves.
This concern was what pushed an Unpad professor at the Faculty of Pharmacy, Irma Melyani Puspitasari, M.T., Ph.D., and her team to develop an app to measure levels of stress and to help screen for mental disorders. The Android-based app can be utilized by students or the public to detect levels of stress effectively and easily.
Along with two other professors, Rano K. Sinuraya, M.K.M., Apt., and Witriani, M.Psi., Psikolog, Irma developed an app called De-Stres. This app can be downloaded for free on the Android Google Store.
Irma explained that the De-Stres app routinely monitors a person’s stress levels. By doing that, users can figure out whether they are in a condition of high stress in a gradual manner. This has the goal of preventing prolonged stress.
“If someone goes through prolonged stress, it can cause depression,” said Irma.
Since 2019, Irma and her team have been developing this app. On the technical side, the app contains questionnaires that can be filled out by users. Specifically, there are two questionnaire modules available. One module is to measure levels of stress, and another is to measure levels of depression.
The users only need to take 5 to 10 minutes in answering the questionnaires. Said questionnaires are adapted from, and validated using, instruments, specifically the Perceived Stress Scale-10 (PSS-10) for the stress module, and Beck Depression Inventory-II for the depression module.
The result of the questionnaire will determine whether the user is categorized as having mild, moderate, or severe stress. The app will display the result of the questionnaire using a needle pointing at a particular color, ranging from green to red.
If the needle points at red, the user can be categorized as having a rather severe stress.
If the measurements show a high level of stress, the app will advise users to take care of the issue. The advice ranges from persuading the user to talk with someone trustworthy to suggesting the user visit a clinical psychologist or psychiatrist.
The professor, who teaches Neurological Pharmacotherapy and Psychiatry, mentioned that, in truth, many students or members of the public suffer from undiagnosed mental disorders. This is what caused the many cases of suicide stemming from stress that lead to depression.
Because of that, this tool for measuring stress is designed as an app for the mobile phone. It is hoped that this app-based measuring tool is easier and more effective to use.
“Since it measures gradually, the app will have a history page. Ideally, this is checked every month,” said Irma.
Since it is easy to use, De-Stres has been utilized by thousands. Irma also utilizes the app in the courses that she teaches. “This app can hopefully be of use to the public,” said Irma. (arm/ICP)*
