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The Disease Control Research Group (RGDC) of the Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS), held a community service initiative for the teachers and educational staff of SMP Negeri 15 Surakarta on Thursday (October 15, 2026). Hosted at the UNS Faculty of Medicine Auditorium, the event focused on mental health, as well as the prevention and management of burnout among educators. This program aligns with the third Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 3): "Good Health and Well-being."

The event was officially opened with remarks from the Head of the RGDC at the UNS Faculty of Medicine, Prof. Ari Natalia Probandari, dr., MPH., Ph.D. In her address, Prof. Ari emphasized the importance of maintaining a balance between physical and mental health for educators, especially given the rapid evolution of technology and the increasing demands of their profession.

"Teachers are the primary pillars in shaping the nation's future generations; however, they are frequently exposed to high levels of stress and the risk of burnout, particularly in today’s digital era. Through this community service initiative, the RGDC at the UNS Faculty of Medicine is committed to providing holistic support—not only by monitoring physical health but also by equipping educators with the mental resilience needed to perform their roles optimally and sustainably," stated Prof. Ari Natalia Probandari.

As a form of early detection for physical health, the series of activities began with services provided by the Integrated Health Post (Posbindu). Through this initiative, teachers and teaching staff at SMP Negeri 15 Surakarta underwent comprehensive health screenings, which included blood pressure measurements, nutritional status assessments, and basic laboratory tests—such as checks for blood sugar, cholesterol, and uric acid levels.

Moving into the core session, participants received a presentation from Dr. Ratih Puspita Febrinasari, dr., M.Sc.—a health expert from the Faculty of Medicine at Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS)—who spoke on the topic, "Detoxing from Stress & Burnout in the Digital Era." During this session, Dr. Ratih explored the following key areas:
1. Recognizing Early Signs of Burnout: Understanding the distinction between routine work-related stress and burnout.
2. The Impact of the Digital Era: How constant exposure to information and limitless connectivity can trigger anxiety and mental exhaustion among educators.
3. Digital Detox Strategies: Practical steps for implementing digital breaks, managing work time effectively, and utilizing self-relaxation techniques to maintain emotional stability.

The educational session was highly interactive, with teachers from SMP Negeri 15 Surakarta showing great enthusiasm; they actively sought advice and shared their own experiences regarding the challenges of teaching and adapting to new technologies in the school environment.

Through this community service initiative, RGDC FK UNS hopes that the teachers at SMP Negeri 15 Surakarta will not only gain a deep understanding of the importance of maintaining mental and physical well-being but also become capable of independently implementing stress management strategies, thereby fostering a healthy, conducive, and productive teaching and learning environment.

Public Relations of FK UNS