UNAIR NEWS “ Students from the Faculty of Psychology at 51¶¯Âþ () developed an interactive board game called MOPAR (Monopoli Akrab) as a psychosocial intervention for patients with mental health disorders at Menur Hospital in Surabaya. The initiative was part of an independent internship program and was implemented directly with patients on Thursday, January 22, 2026. The activity was supervised by Ella Wahyuniansari M.Psi., Psychologist, who served as the mentor for the student group.
MOPAR was developed based on students™ observations and interactions with patients in the ward during morning activities. Several patients showed decreased social functioning, characterized by social withdrawal and limited communication abilities. In response, MOPAR was designed to help patients improve their social skills, particularly their ability to communicate. The game adapts the traditional Monopoly game by transforming board spaces into personal mission squares and incorporating two types of interactive cards.
The MOPAR session involved patients experiencing social isolation. The activity began with the preparation of all game components, including the board, pawns, and interactive cards. Patients were then gathered to receive simple, illustrated instructions to ensure they could easily understand the rules.
The game progressed in turns, with each patient rolling the dice and moving their pawn according to the number obtained. When a pawn landed on a personal mission square, the patient responded to questions about themselves. If a pawn landed on an interactive card square, the patient drew a social instruction card designed to encourage interaction with other patients or players. The session concluded with a brief reflection from participants to capture their feelings after engaging in the activity.
Monopoli Akrab (MOPAR) supports Sustainable Development Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-being), which emphasizes healthy lives and improved community welfare, including mental health. Internship students hope that this initiative can enhance communication abilities and support the mental well-being of patients with mental health disorders at Menur Hospital in Surabaya.
Author: Firda Afira and team
