The mental health of children in Indonesia is currently at an alarming point. The latest data highlights the need for concrete steps and cross-sector synergy to formulate more effective mental protection mechanisms for the nation's future generation.
Deputy Speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR RI), Lestari Moerdijat, emphasized that serious attention to children's mental health is no longer just a discourse, but an urgent need. Based on screening data from the Free Health Check (CKG) program of the Ministry of Health as of January 2026, around 363,326 children, or 4.8% of the 7–17 age group, exhibited symptoms of depression.
This condition is exacerbated by statistics from the Indonesian National Police, which recorded a surge in suicide cases within the 0–15 age range. The figure rose sharply from 604 cases in 2022 to 1,498 cases in 2024, a trend considered a warning alarm for social stability and child protection in the country.
Lestari, who also sits on Commission X of the House of Representatives (DPR RI), highlighted that the root causes of children's mental health issues often intersect with a history of violence. Therefore, she urged that any future policies formulated must involve children themselves and relevant stakeholders to produce comprehensive and targeted solutions.
Furthermore, she emphasized that psychological health is the primary foundation for welcoming the Golden Indonesia 2045 vision. Without strong mental resilience, future generations will struggle to adapt to global challenges and to carry on the baton of national leadership in the future.
