Jakarta, March 25 -- The handling of tuberculosis (TB) requires a holistic approach that also considers the physical and mental health of TB sufferers, according to Indonesia's Health Ministry.

"TB sufferers not only struggle with physical illnesses but are faced with a mental burden," the ministry's director of health services for vulnerable groups, Imran Pambudi, said in a statement issued on Tuesday.

"Therefore, it is important to pay attention to their mental health as part of holistic treatment," he added.

According to Pambudi, TB not only affects a patient's body but also has a significant psychological impact.

Research shows that many TB patients experience mental disorders such as anxiety and depression, which are often exacer...