Child suicide phenomenon: Coordinating Minister highlights structural poverty

Jakarta — Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister for Community Empowerment Abdul Muhaimin Iskandar has stated that structural poverty lies behind the phenomenon of multiple child suicide cases reported in several Indonesian regions in recent weeks.

“These bitter tragedies represent a heavy burden of struggle. The primary issue is structural poverty and social cohesion, which we continue to address together. As we tackle our fundamental problems—poverty and other structural issues—we will persist in working cooperatively together,” Muhaimin Iskandar said during an event titled “Strengthening Psychosocial Resilience as the Foundation for Community Empowerment” in Jakarta on Friday.

He also highlighted the deeply concerning issue of mental health. “The alarming and troubling mental health crisis in recent times has brought tragic events upon our children,” the minister added.

According to data from the Ministry of Health, 28 million Indonesians face mental health challenges. “This reveals an extremely concerning hidden epidemic that could intensify and worsen at any time. In fact, the triggers for mental health disorders are quite complex and multidimensional,” Muhaimin Iskandar said.

Recent cases include a 10-year-old boy with initials YBR who took his own life in Ngada Regency, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), on Thursday, 29 January, allegedly due to severe family economic hardship. Two weeks later, a 14-year-old girl reportedly ended her life in North Penajam Paser, East Kalimantan, on Thursday, 12 February, discovered by her aunt. On the same day, a 13-year-old girl took her own life in Demak Regency, Central Java, with her death discovered by her mother. Police found WhatsApp messages containing harsh language allegedly from the victim’s mother. Subsequently, on Monday, 16 February, a 17-year-old high school student took her own life at her home in East Flores Regency, NTT.