Health Minister at DPR: I Have Never Tested My Mental Health, Might Be Depressed Too
Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin stated that mental health issues in Indonesia must become a concern for all parties. Budi Gunadi shared that he himself has never undergone a mental health check to this day.
This was conveyed by Budi Gunadi during a working meeting with Commission IX of the DPR RI at Senayan, Jakarta, on Monday (20/4/2026). It began when Deputy Chair of Commission IX DPR RI Putih Sari raised the issue of tuberculosis (TB) patients who also experience mental health conditions.
“Regarding mental health linked to tuberculosis patients. Because I believe many studies and journals today show that TB patients also experience a mental condition with a not insignificant psychological burden,” said Putih Sari during the meeting.
The Health Minister responded to this spotlight. He mentioned that the majority of society rarely checks their mental health.
“Mr Sihar and Mrs Putih, TB has its mental aspects. Ma’am, we only find out about mental health when we get free health checks; there are indeed many issues with it. In the past, it was never tested. So perhaps the ladies here or I, we don’t know if we have mental health problems too,” said Budi Gunadi during the meeting.
He stated that both the ranks of the Ministry of Health and DPR members could be experiencing mental health issues. He said this would not be known without direct checks.
“Because it’s never tested. Unlike blood pressure or blood sugar, which we test regularly. I think, yes, perhaps those sitting here or there also have significant mental pressure. So I understand,” said Budi Gunadi.
He then shared that he has never tested his mental health. Budi Gunadi then mentioned that if tested for mental health, the results might indicate depression.
“I am sure mental health checks have probably not been done. Even we ourselves, I have never tested my mental health. So I don’t know, perhaps if tested, I might be depressed too,” he said.
“I think my friends in the DPR, if at some point they do a free mental health check (CKG), we don’t know what the results will be,” he continued.
One of the Commission IX DPR members interrupted the Health Minister’s statement. It was mentioned that mental health is one of the requirements for legislative candidate registration.
“But the good thing is that mental health is not contagious, Ma’am. Mental health is not contagious. Indeed, this is not only done for TB patients, just TB, Mrs Putih. We do this for everyone, starting from school age, adolescents, adults, and the elderly,” said Budi Gunadi.
“Now, what we need to prepare next, perhaps for the generation after me, is how to provide therapy because once mental health issues are detected, they need therapy—some psychological, some medical,” he added.