Access to mental health services is still limited, especially in areas such
as Sedayu District. With a dense population, there is a lack of mental
health services. This basic observation and interview skills training
aimed to enhance the competencies of community mental health cadres
in the early detection of mental health problems in Sedayu District,
Special Region of Yogyakarta. This community service program was
implemented using a participatory approach that included coordination
with local partners, focus group discussions, delivery of training
materials, interactive discussions, observation and interview
simulations, and emergency referral exercises. The evaluation employed
a pre-post test design to assess changes in cadres’ attitudes toward
people with mental disorders (PWMD). The results indicated an
increase in positive attitude scores among cadres after the training,
although the improvement did not reach statistical significance. These
findings suggest that practice-based training has the potential to
strengthen the readiness of community mental health cadres; however,
sustained mentoring and follow-up activities are necessary to optimize
its impact. Overall, this training is expected to contribute to the
strengthening of community-based mental health services and to
support the mental health referral system in Sedayu District