Deputy Speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR RI), Lestari Moerdijat, emphasized the need for concrete and collaborative steps from all elements of the nation to address the mental health crisis currently affecting the younger generation. According to her, serious attention to children's mental stability is an absolute prerequisite for producing a successor generation that is globally competitive.
This concern is not without reason. Based on health screening data released by the Ministry of Health in January 2026, it was revealed that 4.8 percent of children aged 7 to 17, equivalent to 363,326 individuals, showed indications of depressive symptoms. This phenomenon is exacerbated by Indonesian National Police records showing an increase in suicide cases in the 0-15 age group, rising significantly from 604 cases in 2022 to 1,498 cases in 2024.
Furthermore, Lestari, who also serves as a member of Commission X of the House of Representatives (DPR RI), highlighted the strong correlation between mental health issues and a child's history of experiencing violence. Therefore, she urged that any formulation of related policies must involve the children's own perspectives, so that the resulting solutions are truly comprehensive and targeted.
At the end of her statement, Lestari reminded that mental health is the fundamental foundation toward the "Golden Indonesia 2045" vision. Without mature psychological readiness, the younger generation will find it difficult to face the challenges of the times and carry on the baton of national leadership in the future.
