Denny Solang, 52, is the answer to several questions about the uncertain future of people with mental disorders on the south coast of Sukabumi, West Java. He has become a father or soulmate to those who try to understand the meaning of life with others.
By
Wahyudi Machradin Ritonga
·5 minutes read
Denny Solang, 52, is the answer to several questions about the uncertain future of people with mental disorders on the south coast of Sukabumi, West Java. He has become a father or soulmate to those who try to understand the meaning of life with others.
SS, 41, interrupted the conversation when Denny was answering the question of a journalist at the Aura Welas Asih mental rehabilitation center in Sukabumi regency on Wednesday (4/7/2018). Denny was talking in-depth about people with mental disorders. SS interrupted the conversation not once, but several times. Ultimately, Denny warned Sandri sternly, but with a smile. Denny is the founder of the rehabilitation center.
“If you are normal, you should not interrupt the conversation. Otherwise, you are not allowed to go home,” Denny said.
SS heeded the instruction and replied, “That is true, sir. When will I be allowed to go home?”
Sandri is one of 199 patients under treatment at the rehabilitation center on the Pelabuhan Ratu coast. His family had brought him to the center because of his depression.
Most of the patients were confused about their own identity. They had been homeless and eaten from garbage dumps along the coast of Sukabumi.
The latest to be admitted is a woman identified as Mrs. X12. It later emerged that she is Nining Sunarsih, a resident of Kadudampit in Sukabumi, who had been reported missing for 18 months in a case that had been picked up by the media. It is believed she may have been left behind at Pelabuhan Ratu coast.
“There are only 22 patients with a clear identity. Sandri is one of them. There are some who were mistreated by their families,” Denny said. Although Sandri is not fully capable of communicating, he can recognize people, including himself. “This is you, right?” Denny said, showing a photo from the smartphone. It was the photo of a thin man with messy hair behind bars.
“They are human like us. We should not treat them like this,” Denny said, showing the photo.
As an exporter of various commodities, Denny could actually live comfortably, but he could not do that while seeing the fate of mentally ill people struggling to survive along the Pelabuhan Ratu coast.
Starting with providing food, Denny soon became aware that that was not a permanent solution. More people needed food, but often they were hard to find.
With the support of his family, Denny got ready for bigger action. Although he had limited expertise, he founded the Aura Welas Asih mental rehabilitation center in 2014. He used his own money to finance the center. He used a former warehouse for clay bricks to house the mentally ill people.
Two years later, the rehabilitation center obtained an operational permit from the Sukabumi Social Affairs Office. At that time, there were only 50 patients. Aside from mentally ill people, Denny also admitted homeless elderly people to the center. Twelve volunteers assist him.
“Now, my days are mostly for them. In a week, I only spend three days for my business. The rest is for Welas Asih,” Denny said.
Doubts
In the beginning, Denny had doubts about how he would cope. Previously, seven days a week would barely be enough to deal with his business, but after launching Welas Asih, the outcome was surprising. Fortune did not leave him. His business profit increased 50 percent from the previous year. “I did not lose anything after spending time for [the mentally ill]. My life became easier. Slowly, Denny improved his capability. Starting with giving them a place, he wanted to cure them. He wanted his patients to return to society and live normally. But things did not always work out well. The regional administration did not grant his request for medicine and personnel to provide coaching.
“The assistance came from the Dr Marzoeki Mahdi mental hospital in Bogor. I received free medicine and in-patient facilities for the Welas Asih inhabitants,” he said. Help from his neighbors and social organizations also relieved his burden, as they welcomed Denny’s invitation to become engaged with the center, including groups of students from elementary school to senior high school.
“We want the schools to send students to visit Welas Asih. There, the students get information [about mental disability] and learn not to hate the mentally ill,” he said.
Denny’s resolve to go on with his social work was put to the test early this year, when Welas Asih nearly collapsed, because Denny could not finance the operational cost. He had spent his money on it. Luckily, there was assistance. Sixteen donors, businesspeople and government officials, came forward to be foster parents.
Welas Asih is about to receive a new building after a land swap from the government. While their new abode is under construction, the patients live in a school building that is not in use. Denny believes the new building will be more appropriate for living in. Social Affairs Minister Idrus Marham also visited the Welas Asih rehabilitation center in May. The minister, Denny said, was impressed with the independence despute all its limitations. Aside from providing financial assistance, the minister promised a donation of 250 T-shirt to the patients. “But, we have not received them until today,” he said, laughing.
Denny stated he would not continue to rely on donors. He tried to innovate. This year, Welas Asih applies a cross-subsidy scheme for new patients that have a family. If they want to send a family member there, they also have to pay for the living cost of at least one patient. This is to ensure the homeless patients get proper treatment.
Denny’s enthusiasm to help the mentally ill gives him the energy to keep Welas Asih running, albeit silently. Expecting no profit, he provides hope to hundreds of patients to live a normal life with other people in their surrounding.
Born: Jakarta, Dec. 12, 1970
Education: State senior high school SMA 31 Jakarta (1986); Undergraduate in Law from Krisnadwipayana University (1995)