NURSING NEWS — Surabaya, July 8, 2026 – Group 2 students of the Nursing Professional Education Program from the Faculty of Nursing, Universitas Airlangga, conducted a Group Activity Therapy (GAT) session on Wednesday (July 8) at the Garuda Ward of Prof. Dr. Moeljono Regional General Hospital (RSD Prof. Dr. Moeljono), Surabaya. The activity was themed “Recognizing Hallucinations” as an implementation of Implementation Strategy (SP) 1 for patients with the nursing diagnosis of hallucinations. Through this therapeutic activity, the students aimed to help patients identify the hallucinations they experience as the first step in managing their symptoms and improving their understanding of their own condition.
The therapy session was designed as an interactive activity using a ball-passing game accompanied by music. While the music was playing, participants passed the ball to one another. When the music stopped, the patient holding the ball was asked to introduce themselves and share their experiences with hallucinations. The discussion covered various types of hallucinations, including auditory, visual, tactile, and olfactory hallucinations. The students also guided the patients to identify the content of their hallucinations, the time they usually occurred, their frequency, the situations that triggered them, and the responses they typically displayed when experiencing hallucinations. This approach created a relaxed and enjoyable therapeutic atmosphere while encouraging patients to openly share their experiences.
The Group Activity Therapy session was attended by 10 patients, all of whom demonstrated enthusiasm and active participation throughout the activity. Most participants were able to follow the game well, introduce themselves to the group, and describe the hallucinations they had experienced. The interactions fostered during the session also provided opportunities for patients to listen to one another, respect each other’s experiences, and enhance their communication skills within a group setting. The primary objective of this activity was to improve patients’ ability to recognize their hallucinations as part of the implementation of SP 1, enabling them to take the initial step toward managing their symptoms. Furthermore, this activity represented an implementation of psychiatric nursing care that supports patients’ holistic recovery while contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) through the promotion of mental health, SDG 4 (Quality Education) through participatory health education, and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) through collaboration between educational institutions and healthcare facilities.
Through this Group Activity Therapy, the Nursing Professional Program students of the Faculty of Nursing, Universitas Airlangga, hope that patients will become more capable of recognizing their hallucinations as an essential first step toward recovery and an improved quality of life. The activity also provided valuable hands-on experience for the students in applying psychiatric nursing interventions through a therapeutic approach that was creative, communicative, and patient-centered. Similar activities are expected to continue being developed as part of promotive, supportive, and patient-oriented mental health nursing services.
Author : Carissa Lintang Ivana
Editor : Nasya Puspita Anggraeni (Airlangga Nursing Journalist)
