Home Affairs Minister Urges Mental Health Issues Among Children and Adolescents to Be a Focus for Local Governments
The Indonesian Home Affairs Minister Muhammad Tito Karnavian emphasised the importance of treating the mental health of children and adolescents as a key concern for local governments. He urged regional leaders to provide support for the issue, including allocating funding in their Regional Revenue and Expenditure Budgets (APBD). He made the remarks at a minister‑level Coordinating Meeting (Rakor) on the Synchronisation, Coordination and Control (SKP) of Prevention and Handling of Mental Health Problems in Children and Adolescents. The forum took place at the Office of the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture (Kemenko PMK) in Jakarta.
“So, if we want to programme it, the money must be allocated at the APBD planning stage,” Tito said in a written statement on Thursday (5 March 2026).
Tito acknowledged that the fiscal capacity of each region varies greatly. He noted that for areas with fiscal constraints, intervention from the central government is required so that the programme can still run.
He also stressed the need to educate local leaders about the importance of the issue so that the support provided can be optimal. Therefore, he proposed a special virtual meeting with regional heads to discuss the issue. “We will invite them so that they are required to attend,” Tito said.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (Kemendagri) will ensure that the issue is included in the APBD. He also said a circular would be issued outlining the role of local governments in responding to the mental health issue among children and adolescents. The explanation of these roles will involve relevant ministries and agencies. “For example, perhaps the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection (KPPPA), or the Ministry of Health, or the Coordinating Ministers. What exactly they should do? Because all programmes must be clearly defined as to what they must do,” Tito said.
Separately, Tito proposed establishing reward and incentive mechanisms for districts that successfully implement the mental health programme for children and adolescents optimally. He said such measures could motivate local governments to take the issue more seriously.
Attended the forum were the Coordinating Minister for PMK Pratikno, Minister of Religious Affairs Nasaruddin Umar, Minister of Basic Education and Culture Abdul Mu’ti, Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin, Minister of Social Affairs Saifullah Yusuf, Minister of Communications and Digital Meutya Hafid, Minister of Population and Family Development Wihaji, Minister of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection Arifah Fauzi, and the Inspector General of Police Wahyu Widada.
At the end of the meeting, nine ministers signed a Joint Decree (SKB) on Mental Health of Children and Adolescents.
(anl/ega)