Dubbed "Kesehatan Jiwa", the service aims to educate the public on the importance of maintaining mental health and allows users to consult with more than 500 registered psychologists and psychiatrists.

Clinical psychology and psychiatry services were previously available through the platform's "Chat with Doctor" feature. 

According to a statement from the company, the special channel has seen a 400 percent increase in visitors since its launch two weeks ago, with common complaints including depression, anxiety and stress.

Read also: Tiket.com, Halodoc team up for COVID-19 rapid testing

Halodoc marketing vice president marketing Felicia Kawilarang said that stigma about mental health issues remained a barrier to access to professional help. 

"Amid this pandemic, people should be more responsible in filtering information [as there is] unreliable news that may trigger anxiety, hence affecting their mental health," said Felicia in the statement, adding that people should only rely on official and trusted sources.

According to 2018 Health Ministry data, 9.8 percent of Indonesians above the age of 15 suffered from mental health issues, up from 6 percent in 2013. The data also show that only 9 percent of the more than 12 million people who suffer from depression in Indonesia had reached out for professional help. (wir/kes)

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