FIB UI and ILUNI Discuss Student Mental Health from a Humanities Perspective
REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, DEPOK — The Faculty of Cultural Sciences at Universitas Indonesia (FIB UI) together with the FIB UI Alumni Association (ILUNI FIB UI) held the Alumni Public Lecture Series (KUALI #2) titled “Building Awareness of Student Mental Health from a Humanities Perspective in the Modern Era” on Tuesday (28/4/2026). The event took place at the Toety Herati Noerhadi Auditorium, R.M. Ng. Poerbatjaraka Building, UI Depok Campus.
The event was attended by students, lecturers, alumni, and the academic community, featuring speakers Dr. dr. Ray Wagiu Basrowi, MKK., FRSPH, as Chairman of the Health Collaborative Center, and ILUNI FIB UI Chair Visna Vulovik, S.Hum., M.A., with moderator Dr. Rias Antho Rahmi Suharjo.
In the forum, student mental health was emphasised as a strategic issue in higher education. It is no longer viewed as an individual problem but is closely linked to the quality of learning, the resilience of the younger generation, and the future of the nation.
Dr. Ray Wagiu Basrowi stated that psychological disorders among students often appear without obvious signs. According to him, changes in everyday language can serve as an important indicator of a person’s mental condition.
“Language is a psychological biomarker. Sentences like ‘tired’, ‘whatever’, ‘up to you’, or ‘don’t know what to do anymore’ are often considered normal, but they can be signals of mental distress,” said Dr. Ray, who is also the initiator of the Mental Health Care Community Caucus.
He added that student mental health is influenced by various factors, from academic pressures and future uncertainties to social media pressures. “Today’s students are often demanded to appear fine, when in fact many are just surviving, not thriving,” he said, quoted from a press release on Wednesday (29/4/2026).
Meanwhile, the Dean of FIB UI, Dr. Untung Yuwono, emphasised the importance of the humanities’ role in comprehensively understanding mental health issues. According to him, a humanities approach can view humans from the aspects of language, emotions, identity, and social relations.
“Universities cannot just produce intelligent graduates, but also resilient, empathetic individuals who are psychologically healthy,” he said.
ILUNI FIB UI Chair Visna Vulovik added that alumni have an important role in supporting students facing contemporary challenges. She stressed that alumni must serve as bridges of experience and inspiration, not just reminiscing.
“Awareness of student mental health must become a shared agenda between campuses, alumni, families, and society,” she said.
Through this event, FIB UI and ILUNI hope to encourage the formation of a campus ecosystem that is more sensitive to mental health, increase psychological literacy, and normalise dignified access to professional help.