Korespondensi : Spiritual and Community-Based Mental Health Services for Children with Special Needs in Islamic Boarding School

Background: Children with special needs require more care than normal children. They are not enough
to get parenting assistance from the family. Communities and governments also play an essential role
in educating them.
Aims: This study aims to find a mental health service model for children, especially with special needs
based on spirituality and community engagement, especially in rural areas
Research Methods: A qualitative approach was used in this study. This study involved 19 managers and
caregivers of children with special needs who participated in interviews, participant observations, and
three focus group discussions. The interview was conducted using a free association interview
technique. Thematic analysis and content analysis are used to analyze the data.
Results and Conclusion: Thematic analysis of the interview process and focus group discussion resulted
in four prominent themes namely the process of forming spiritual and community-based mental health
services, description of children who receive mental health services, forms, and processes of nursing
them based on spiritual and community approaches, assessment methods and psychological
interventions with an indigenous psychological approach.
Contribution: This study is expected to find a mental health service model that is suitable for the children
and can be applied in rural areas, and can be a mental health service model that can be replicated in
other areas.