Latar Belakang: Jumlah orang dengan gangguan jiwa semakin meningkat di Indonesia, merujuk pada Riset Kesehatan Dasar yang dilakukan Kementerian Kesehatan pada tahun 2018, prevalensi orang gangguan jiwa berat (skizofrenia/psikosis) meningkat dari 0,15% menjadi 0,18%, untuk menangani masalah kesehatan jiwa yang ada di lingkungan masyarakat, perlu adanya tenaga potensial yang ada di masyarakat yaitu kader kesehatan jiwa. Tujuan: untuk menguraikan peran kader kesehatan jiwa dalam program kesehatan jiwa di masyarakat. Metode: penelitian kualitatif dengan desain penelitian fenomenologi dengan metode wawancara dan FGD. Hasil penelitian terhadap 20 orang informan didapatkan bahwa kader telah menjalankan peran kader kesehatan jiwa di masyarakat meliputi peran pencegahan primer yaitu pendataan, memotivasi keluarga dan pasien ODGJ, serta memberikan pendidikan kesehatan. Peran kader dalam pencegahan sekunder ialah deteksi dini dan sosialisasi. Pencegahan tersier yaitu memotivasi ODGJ minum obat, pendampingan minum obat dan melakukan rujukan. Saran: adanya pelatihan rutin secra berkala bagi kader kesehatan jiwa untuk mengatasi hambatan-hambatan yang ada di masyarakat.

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Background: The amount of people with mental disorders is increasing in Indonesia. Referring to National Health Survey conducted by the Ministry of Health in 2018, the prevalence of people with severe mental disorders (schizophrenia / psychosis) increased from 0.15% to 0.18%. to determine mental health issues in the community, there is an urgency for potential workers in the community, namely mental health cadres. Objective: This study aims to describe the role of mental health cadres in mental health programs within the community. Method: Qualitative method with a phenomenological design comprises interview and FGD were used in this research. Result: Of 20 informants, we found that cadres have performed their roles including the role in primary prevention namely person with mental issues data collection (screening), motivating families and people with mental disorders, and providing health education. Subsequently, roles in detection and outreach as a secondary prevention. Tertiary prevention is to motivate people with mental disorders so they will take prescriptions, mentoring to take medication and make a referrals. Conclusion:  2 mental health cadres have performed their roles, however there are still many obstacles in society that cadres need to overcome.