Ministry of Health provides rapid response counselling following UIN Suska Riau stabbing incident
Jakarta — The Ministry of Health has responded to a stabbing incident involving a female student at UIN Sultan Syarif Kasim II in Pekanbaru, Riau, including the provision of short-term counselling services for the victim, witnesses, and psychiatric referrals where necessary.
Imran Pambudi, Director of Health Services for Vulnerable Groups at the Ministry of Health, said on Saturday in Jakarta that the stabbing case highlights a phenomenon of increasing risky behaviour among young people that must be viewed as a public health issue closely linked to mental health conditions, social environment, and access to services.
According to media reports, the alleged attacker is suspected of suffering from erotomania—a persistent delusion that another person, often of higher status or a public figure, is in love with the sufferer, despite clear evidence to the contrary.
“Erotomania is a manifestation of delusion and falls within the category of psychotic disorder or delusional disorder; it can occur independently or within the context of schizophrenia or mood disorder with psychotic symptoms,” Imran stated.
He added that the role of media and local incidents demonstrates how romantic rejection or interpersonal conflict can trigger dangerous actions in psychologically vulnerable individuals. Monitoring such cases helps the ministry adjust service responses accordingly.
The ministry is therefore committed to supporting the provision of psychosocial support for victims, witnesses, and the campus community through cross-sectoral collaboration. In addition to providing counselling, the ministry has mobilised crisis response teams from the provincial health services, trained campus support staff in trauma management, documentation, and referrals, and is coordinating with campus authorities and law enforcement to ensure victim safety while maintaining confidentiality and patient rights.
Imran also outlined several risk indicators for psychologically vulnerable individuals prone to violent behaviour, including drastic behavioural changes and persistent, unrealistic delusional beliefs.
“National data shows significant mental health problems among adolescents and university students, yet mental health screening coverage and access to services remain uneven across regions. Current health screening results for adults show suspected depressive symptoms at 0.9 per cent using the PHQ-4 assessment,” he said.
Therefore, according to Imran, there is a need to strengthen systematic mental health screening in schools and universities as an important early mitigation measure for early detection and referral.
The police previously arrested a male student for stabbing a female student who was preparing for her thesis proposal seminar at UIN Sultan Syarif Kasim II in Pekanbaru, Riau. The incident occurred on the second floor of the Faculty of Law and Sharia on Thursday at approximately 08.30 local time. The victim received immediate first aid at Bhayangkara Hospital’s emergency department and is currently undergoing medical treatment with plans for transfer to Arifin Achmad General Hospital for further care.