Health Minister Reveals Nearly 10% of Indonesian Children Experience Depression and Anxiety Disorder

The Free Health Check (CKG) programme for 2025–2026 has identified mental health problems in nearly 10 per cent of Indonesian children. From approximately 7 million children examined, the Health Ministry (Kemenkes) detected significant symptoms of anxiety and depression.

This was disclosed by Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin at a press conference held at the Kemenkes office in Jakarta on Monday, 9 March 2026.

Budi revealed that 4.4 per cent, or approximately 338,000 children, showed symptoms of anxiety disorder, whilst 4.8 per cent, or approximately 363,000 children, showed symptoms of depression disorder.

“This demonstrates that mental health problems are very significant,” said Budi in his statement.

According to him, mental health issues in children require serious attention as they can lead to suicide. Data from the Global School-Based Student Health Survey shows an increasing trend of children attempting suicide, rising from 3.9 per cent in 2015 to 10.7 per cent in 2023.

Budi explained that mental health problems in children are influenced not only by individual factors but also by family environment, friendships, and education.

“What needs to be improved is not just the child, but also family parenting patterns and learning environments. We need to promote life skills and First Aid for Psychological Wounds (P3LP). Everyone faces pressure, but what matters is how we respond to it appropriately,” he said.

In response to these findings, Kemenkes is targeting an expansion of CKG screening to reach 25 million children. The Director General of Primary Health Care and Community Health, Maria Endang Sumiwi, stated that screening results will be followed up by health centres.

The government is currently accelerating the deployment of clinical psychologists to health centres, which currently number only approximately 203 personnel. Additionally, the government has activated a mental health crisis service through Healing119.id to support rapid intervention.

In the education sector, Kemenkes is promoting the role of school guidance counsellors and classroom teachers in supporting students identified with mental health symptoms.

This early detection effort has been strengthened through a joint decree on Child Mental Health signed by nine ministries and agencies on Thursday (5 March).