People with mental health problems are often still labeled as “crazy.” This was once experienced by a man with bipolar disorder, Agus Sugianto, commonly known as Anto. What is the story behind his journey?

Anto shared that in 1999 he experienced severe depression due to failing to achieve his dream of continuing his education at university. At that time, he was diagnosed with schizophrenia and labeled as “crazy” by his neighbors.

“I was immediately diagnosed and shackled for about a month at a public health center in East Java. Eventually, my family took me home,” Anto recalled.

However, Anto did not simply accept the diagnosis. He began searching for information from various sources about schizophrenia and mental health conditions. Through his research, he discovered that he had been misdiagnosed.

“I looked for information about what kind of mental health problem I actually had. Eventually, I found that I was experiencing depression,” said the man from Tulungagung.

“In 2010, I consulted a psychiatrist and was diagnosed with minor bipolar disorder or depression with bipolar tendencies. It was still something I could manage,” Anto added.

In addition to psychiatric treatment, Anto deepened his spiritual life and continuously motivated himself to rise from despair. He encouraged himself to accept his condition as part of his life journey and chose to forgive those who had stigmatized him.

Anto’s efforts paid off. He was able to communicate openly and educate his family and community about his mental health condition. Anto continued his education and graduated with a cum laude academic achievement.

“I graduated in 2016 with a GPA of 3.82. The people who once called me crazy ended up crying. They were deeply moved by my life journey,” said the 39-year-old.

Today, Anto is actively involved in various communities and is frequently invited as a speaker at mental health events. He has earned numerous achievements, including winning a mental health essay competition published in an online journal in 2014.

Anto also had the opportunity to study in the Netherlands for one month through the Jim Birly Scholarship Awards. His dream of visiting Australia also came true after receiving an invitation to the Australia Awards Fellowship 2016 – International Mental Health Leadership Program.

Source: detik.com