The Stronger Together Mental Health Program demonstrates a scalable, evidence-based model for integrating mental health into Indonesia’s garment sector. Implemented in two factories in Boyolali and Bogor, the program successfully transitioned workplace mental health from a reactive, clinic-based approach to a proactive, peer-led ecosystem.
The pilot achieved:
- Significant reduction in anxiety/depression (up to 84% decrease)
- Dramatic increase in help-seeking awareness (up to 100%)
- Strong competency gains in Psychological First Aid (PFA/P3LP) (43–59%)
- A multiplier effect reaching 296 workers through 80 trained Peer Educators in just one and half months.
The Stronger Together program is a practical effort to respond to the challenges faced by garment workers in their daily lives. Many workers experience high levels of pressure—especially women, who often carry a double burden through their multiple roles at work and at home. At the same time, understanding of mental health remains limited, and not everyone feels comfortable or safe seeking help. On top of that, negative stigma around mental health issues is still deeply rooted. This program aims to change that by placing workers’ mental well-being as an essential part of a healthy and sustainable work environment.
The program is implemented in two garment factories in Bogor and Boyolali, Indonesia. Workers are equipped with basic Psychological First Aid (PFA) skills and mental health knowledge that can be applied in their daily work, using a Peer Educator approach.
Trained Peer Educators act as first aiders. They are equipped to recognize early signs of mental health issues, practice active listening, and identify appropriate referral pathways to available support services. This enables early detection of stress among workers and ensures that support can be provided more quickly or directed to the right services when needed.
This approach helps reduce stigma, encourages workers to seek help, and strengthens a sense of solidarity in the workplace. In the long run, it contributes to a more resilient workforce, a healthier work environment, and more sustainable operations.