Ira Adriati
The presence of women who are inmates at the Class IIA Sukamiskin Prison in Bandung increases every year. Their mental condition is very vulnerable to stress. Feelings of guilt towards their families, especially leaving their children at home, are one of the sources of their stress. Besides that, feelings of guilt that ultimately blame themselves can make them even more stressed. Based on research results, it shows that female inmates are more susceptible to stress than male inmates. This is because they have to leave their duties as mothers and wives in the family (Kirana & Septiani (2017) in Satiti: 2019).
One effort to regulate feelings of guilt is through the method art as therapy and photo therapy. In this Community Service activity, various art as therapy activities will be carried out to regulate negative emotions or stress in their daily lives.
It is hoped that through photo therapy and art as therapy can awaken self compassion in them so that they become mentally stronger and less vulnerable to stress. Photo therapy activities are a method that can make them aware of the problems they are facing, then they try to find the root of the problem and solve it. This session often makes them cry because it can release their negative emotions. Furthermore, art as therapy activities by making various works of art or crafts can regulate negative emotions and make them better. The target is self-compassion. A high level of self-compassion can make them confident in themselves, thereby reducing the stress they feel.
Art as therapy activities using various media such as painting, writing, making dolls, or sewing allows them to sell these works. Through this activity they gain various skills that can be used to earn income.
Overall, this activity was successful using quantitative methods, showing an increase in their self-compassion, as well as through writing in the art journaling book they wrote.
The aim of this community service activity is to help improve the emotions of women inmates by reducing the negative emotions that are present in women inmates.
Providing therapeutic art activities for female inmates, thereby increasing self-compassion for inmates. Providing skills to make crafts that are of marketable value, so they can earn an income. Making an art journal is a form of personal activity that empowers inmates to determine their life goals. This becomes a medium for them to understand themselves, thereby awakening their enthusiasm for life.