inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta. Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin responded to the public spotlight on the case of a child committing suicide due to being unable to afford stationery in Ngada, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT). He stated that his ministry is preparing clinical psychology services.
"We have been screening children for mental health; there are 10 million children at risk (of mental illness). Now, I want to establish clinical psychology services in every community health center, so that mental illnesses that have not been treated in hospitals can be treated there," explained Minister Budi on Wednesday (2/4/2026).
The Minister of Health recognizes that mental health issues in children have not received optimal attention. Therefore, through the Free Health Check (CKG), the government is also working to include mental health screenings for children, including providing services at community health centers.
"Previously, we didn't know there were mental health problems in children. Now, through screening, we know there are 10 million. This must be addressed by placing clinical psychologists in community health centers (Puskesmas) in collaboration with schools, so that preventive and promotive treatment can be provided," said the Minister of Health.
Meanwhile, Dr. Lahargo Kembaren, Psychiatrist in the Community Service Division of the Indonesian Psychiatric Association, stated that children aged 9-10 years old who are overburdened are vulnerable to extreme decisions such as ending their lives.
Therefore, he believes that prevention must be multi-layered and cannot be carried out solely through one party. Within the family, it's necessary to build emotional communication, not just discipline. It's also necessary to validate children's feelings before giving advice. Parents need to have the courage to seek help, not hold it in.
"In schools, teachers need to be trained to recognize the signs of psychological stress and administer first aid for psychological wounds (P3LP), to have an active, not a reactive, counseling system, and to have a concrete, not a slogan, anti-bullying culture," said Dr. Lahargo.
Meanwhile, within the community and the state, access to mental health services needs to be expanded, mental health literacy needs to be improved from an early age, and policies need to be formulated that are sensitive to the economic impact on families.
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