The Community Service (PkM) Team of Mercu Buana University Yogyakarta (UMBY) chaired by Dr. Didik Haryadi Santoso, MA, consisting of Rila Setyaningsih, S.Kom.I., M.S.I., and Albert Yakobus Chandra, S.Kom., M.Eng., held digital literacy and mental health training for the MGBK (Guidance and Counseling Teachers' Consultation) group at the Senior High School (SMA) level in Sleman Regency. The PkM program funded by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology Grant entitled "Implementation of New Media Literacy Through Web-Based Applications to Improve Literacy Across Adolescent Problems for Guidance and Counseling Teachers in Sleman Yogyakarta" was held on Wednesday (04/09/2024). The activity was attended by 57 MGBK teachers from Sleman Regency who were present at Campus 3 UMBY.

This activity also coincided with the launch of the digitalliteracy.id application, a web-based application to improve access to cross-problem student services in the form of new media literacy applications so that they can be utilized by teachers and high school students in Sleman district. The service team also provided assistance in the use of web-based applications to train teachers to drive digital literacy at the high school level.

Didik Haryadi Santoso as the head of PkM emphasized that this service program not only focuses on delivering material but also has great hopes of increasing access to web-based new media literacy application services so that they can be utilized by teachers and high school students through assistance in the use of web-based applications.

"This service activity is one solution to the emergence of many problems at the youth level regarding digitalization and psychology in today's youth. Through the launch of this application, the UMBY service team is committed to improving the quality of education, especially in Sleman. This initiative is expected to have a positive impact in increasing the effectiveness of learning and student readiness in facing challenges in the digital era, especially in the development of AI (Artificial Intelligence)," he explained.

This community service program includes several activity sessions. In the first session, activities were carried out offline, including a series of socializations and presentations of digital literacy materials and literacy across adolescent problems related to mental health. This activity invited Sheilla Varadhila Peristianto, M.Psi, Psychologist., a lecturer in Psychology at UMBY as a speaker.

Sheilla Varadhilla said that schools are a strategic setting for increasing access to mental health. In terms of accessibility and affordability, schools are environments that are easily accessible to children and adolescents every day. This provides an opportunity for mental health services to be present consistently and at no additional cost. Teachers and school staff can be trained to recognize early signs of mental health problems. Early intervention through school counselors or psychologists can help prevent more serious problems.

"Mental health services in schools are often more integrated and accepted as part of student well-being. This helps reduce the stigma that may exist if these services have to be sought outside of school. Schools can work with parents and communities to create a holistic approach that supports students' mental well-being more broadly," said Sheilla in her material on mental health.

"Digital space on social media is not always safe and comfortable. The key is for us to be wise in using media," said Rila Setyaningsih at the end of her presentation on digital literacy.

At the end of the activity, the implementing team provided assistance in the form of practicing the use of the digitalliteracy.id web-based application guided by the community service implementing team, Albert Yakobus Chandra S.Kom., M.Eng.

This application can be accessed via the digitalliteracy.id website by entering a username and password that has been created by the UMBY community service team. Each teacher who participates in the activity will get a username and password. Each topic in the digitalliteracy.id application is equipped with learning materials, videos, and quizzes as a means for students to improve their understanding of digital literacy and literacy across adolescent problems.

"This web-based application is specifically designed to help high school teachers develop digital literacy skills with the aim of increasing knowledge and understanding of how literacy across adolescent problems," said Albert as the designer of the digitalliteracy.id application.

Eko Yulianto, S.Pd, Chairman of MGBK Sleman Regency said that the activities of UMBY are very useful for the development of children's Social and Emotional Skills.

"Schools provide an environment to teach social and emotional skills that support mental health, such as stress management, emotional regulation, and problem solving as provisions for the future social life of the community," said Eko Yulianto.