RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The government has taken serious steps to address children’s mental health issues, marked by the signing of a Joint Decree (SKB) on Children’s Mental Health by nine ministries and institutions in Jakarta on Thursday, March 5, 2026.

Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture, Pratikno, said the urgency of tackling children’s mental health has grown, with recent cases of child suicide and incidents of violence by children against parents underscoring the need for stronger intervention.

“The trend of mental health cases continues to rise among children. Child suicide is also increasing. Considering the risk factors, this problem is multi-sectoral and cannot be handled by one ministry alone,” Minister Pratikno said during a meeting at the Coordinating Ministry office, as quoted by Antara.

He emphasized that the government must develop an integrated response involving families, schools, health services, and monitoring of digital spaces.

Government data shows that mental health issues are more prevalent among children and adolescents than in other age groups.

Health Ministry's Health Development Policy Agency (BKPK) Head Asnawi Abdullah said symptoms of depression and anxiety were found to be significantly higher in students than in adults. The findings came from the 2025 Free Health Check Program (CKG), which screened 27 million people.

“Of the 27 million people checked, symptoms of depression and anxiety in adolescents were five times higher than in adults and the elderly,” Asnawi said. The Ministry of Health recorded that 363,326 students, or 4.8 percent, experienced symptoms of depression, while 338,316 students, or 4.4 percent, experienced symptoms of anxiety. In comparison, depression was recorded in 174,579 adults, or 0.9 percent, and anxiety in 153,903 adults, or 0.8 percent.

Asnawi explained that screenings through the CKG program are expected to accelerate early detection of psychological disorders in students, allowing interventions before conditions worsen. He noted that many cases are only discovered after progressing for a long time, but teachers and others in a child’s environment can play a role in identifying early symptoms.

“Our evaluation shows that students experience symptoms of depression due to many factors, one of which is pressure to achieve. We should not wait until the condition is severe before discovering that a child is experiencing mental problems,” he said.

To expand early detection, the government is targeting 50 million students to participate in the CKG program by 2026, up from 25 million the previous year.

The Joint Decree was signed by the Ministers of Health, Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection, Communication and Digital, Social Affairs, Elementary and Secondary Education, Home Affairs, Religious Affairs, Population and Family Development, and a representative of the National Police Chief.

Minister Pratikno stressed that the role of each sector is crucial, as risk factors for children’s mental health range from family problems and violence in schools or madrasas to exposure to harmful content on social media.

He said the government’s approach must focus not only on treatment but also on prevention and education. “We must ensure that this policy is comprehensive and implemented, from promotive, preventive, curative, to rehabilitative, and carried out in an integrated manner,” he said. ***