Minister Wihaji: 34 Percent of Adolescents Have Mental Health Issues, Father's Presence Crucial

Minister of Population and Family Development (Mendukbangga) and Head of the National Population and Family Planning Board (BKKBN), Wihaji, has underscored the importance of a father’s presence in parenting, noting that 34 percent of the younger generation currently experience mental health issues. Wihaji made the statement during a visit to MAN 1 Yogyakarta on Thursday, as part of the 33rd National Family Day (Harganas) series of events. He noted that based on surveys, families even lose warmth when eating together as they are busy playing with their respective mobile phones. “So, fatherless, these children actually yearn not just for money, but for a psychological touch. Therefore, fathers, please make time to chat with your children, because otherwise, the children will be controlled by their handphones,” he explained. He therefore advised parents that if a child is facing a problem, they must be invited to talk so they do not end up conversing more with their ‘new family’ or gadgets. “Earlier we also talked about our new family called gadgets and algorithms. Our mentality and behaviour, if we are not careful, are influenced by heartless algorithms, because they are machines and technology, while we are humans with hearts,” he said. He noted that the average young person today holds a mobile phone for 8 to 10 hours per day, causing them to spend more time on gadgets than chatting with their parents. “Today, nearly 60-70 percent of our brain’s algorithm is influenced by technology. If we are not careful, their parents now are not us, but the handphone,” he stated. In conjunction with the 33rd Harganas, the Ministry of Population and Family Development/BKKBN continues to promote the ‘Father Takes the Report Card’ Movement (Gemar). Currently, the fatherless rate in Indonesia has reached 25 percent.