Ten Thousand Students in Bandung Face Mental Health Issues

RRI.CO.ID, Bandung – The Primary and Secondary Education Ministry is pushing for a systemic overhaul of school counseling and health services. This move follows reports that approximately 10,000 students in Bandung experienced mental health issues throughout 2025.

This data, sourced from a Bandung Health Agency survey covering elementary to high school students, has prompted officials to prioritize early detection within the school environment.

During a visit to State Junior High School 70 Bandung on Friday, February 6, 2026, Bandung Mayor Muhammad Farhan confirmed the findings. “Ten thousand students are experiencing mental health issues,” said Farhan, as quoted by Antara.

He noted that the specific classifications, ranging from mild to severe disorders, are still being detailed. However, these figures already serve as a critical foundation for the Bandung Education Agency to develop robust capacity-building programs for school counselors.

“The Education Agency will respond to this by creating a dedicated program,” he added.

Addressing the issue from a national perspective, Primary and Secondary Education Deputy Minister, Fajar Riza Ul Haq, emphasized that the central government is actively strengthening the role of Guidance and Counseling (BK) teachers. He pointed out that educators have historically struggled to identify psychological distress quickly enough. 

“Because so far in schools, teachers have been less than swift in detecting their children's problems. By strengthening the counseling role of BK teachers in schools, we want teachers to be the first party capable of detecting children's issues,” remarked Fajar.

Fajar further explained that personal challenges originating within the family environment often spill over into the school setting, frequently going unnoticed by staff. To bridge this gap, the Ministry is revitalizing the function of School Health Units (UKS) to act as a vital link between educational institutions and local community health centers. 

“When children show unusual symptoms, the homeroom teacher must be able to detect them, and then they should be brought to the UKS for consultation. If it cannot be resolved there, the UKS will recommend a referral to a health facility,” he said.

In alignment with the national strategy, the Head of the Bandung Education Agency, Asep Gufron, announced plans to integrate professional psychologists into the school system to work alongside BK teachers. This initiative aims to provide specialized support and strengthen coordination with local health clinics.

“We are preparing psychologists to provide guidance to BK teachers,” concluded Asep Gufron, signaling a more clinical and collaborative approach to student well-being in the city. ***