Deputy Speaker of the MPR Highlights Child Suicide Cases, Reminds of the 1945 Constitution
Child suicide cases are no longer seen as a mere mental health issue. Deputy Speaker of the MPR, Lestari Moerdijat (Rerie), affirmed that this is a national issue that must be addressed through collaborative efforts.
“Talking about child suicide cases is talking about the future of the nation because these children are the ones who will carry the torch to build the future of the nation,” said Rerie in a statement on Wednesday (February 25, 2026).
She made these remarks during an online discussion themed ‘Caring for the Souls of the Nation’s Children: From Preventing Suicide to Building a Life Ecosystem,’ organized by the Denpasar 12 Discussion Forum.
According to data from KPAI, there have been 116 cases of child suicide in Indonesia since 2023. Rerie believes that this number indicates the fragility of instilling positive values in the next generation, making it crucial to build a safe social space for children as a shared responsibility.
She also reminded of the constitutional mandate, referring to Article 28B, paragraph 2 of the 1945 Constitution, which affirms the right of children to live, grow, and develop, as well as to receive protection from violence and discrimination. Therefore, prevention efforts must be systematic and involve various pillars.
On the other hand, Director of Junior High Schools at the Ministry of Education and Culture, Maulani Mega Hapsari, stated that when child suicide cases occur in schools, school administrators often become the ones blamed. According to her, education should be a continuous process between family and school.
Maulani highlighted bullying in schools as an ‘iceberg’ phenomenon that often triggers problems. Therefore, the Ministry of Education and Culture encourages various activities to build a safe and comfortable culture, such as camps, student leadership workshops, UKS programs, and national defense training and positive activities for students.
She added that schools also provide counseling services to help students deal with the problems they face, so that the learning environment remains conducive and supports student development.
KPAI Commissioner, Diyah Puspitarini, stated that attention to cases of children ending their lives has increased. Since 2023, she said that her organization has issued warnings regarding the increasing number of child suicide cases.
According to Diyah, before a child ends their life, there is usually an act that hurts them. She also noted that most cases occur through hanging.
Meanwhile, Psychologist & Holistic Health Consultant, Shinta Sari Shaleh, believes that child suicide is not just an individual problem, but a systemic problem that has not been able to provide a safe space. She believes that no child wakes up and immediately wants to end their life, but there are triggers that lead them to it.
Shinta believes that suicide often occurs because the system around the child is slow to respond to their mental needs. She encourages a national education program for teachers and parents to better understand the aspects of child growth and development.
The VIII Commission of the DPR RI, from the NasDem Party faction, Lisda Hendrajoni, appreciated the Ministry of Education and Culture’s program to prevent bullying, but questioned the reach of the program. She also highlighted the counseling services in schools, including the adequacy of the counselor-to-student ratio.
In response to KPAI’s data, Lisda believes that a quick and measurable response is needed to address the potential for suicide in children. She emphasized strengthening the pillars of family, school, community, and the state to build a safe and comfortable ecosystem.
“The state must be able to build a comprehensive child protection system; otherwise, we are building a fragile future for the nation,” said Lisda.
In another part, senior journalist Usman Kansong linked the phenomenon of suicide to Emile Durkheim’s study on social bonds. According to him, social bonds that are too loose or too tight can both trigger suicide.
Usman believes that child suicide cases are also triggered by loose social bonds in the family. He cited the phenomenon of children choosing to confide in AI because when they confide in people around them, they often feel judged.
He invited the public to re-examine the relationships and social bonds with the environment proportionally, i.e., not too loose and not too oppressive.
The discussion, moderated by Special Staff of the Deputy Speaker of the MPR, Eva Kusuma Sundari, featured Maulani Mega Hapsari, Diyah Puspitarini, and Shinta Sari Shaleh. Lisda Hendrajoni from the VIII Commission of the DPR RI, from the NasDem Party faction, also attended as a respondent.
See also Video: Ministry of Education and Culture: Funds for Elementary School Students Who Committed Suicide in NTT Have Not Been Withdrawn