MPR Calls for Collaboration to Address Children's Mental Health Emergency

Deputy Speaker of the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) Lestari Moerdijat has stated that concrete measures and collaboration are needed to address the mental health emergency facing the nation’s future generations. “Real, collective steps are required to create a competitive next generation by ensuring that children’s mental health receives serious attention from all parties,” said Rerie, as she is familiarly known, in a statement in Jakarta on Sunday. Rerie revealed that based on screening results from the Free Health Check programme released by the Ministry of Health in January 2026, 4.8 percent, or approximately 363,326 children aged 7–17, were indicated to have symptoms of depression. Furthermore, the National Police previously recorded that suicide cases among children aged 0–15 had more than doubled in two years, from 604 cases in 2022 to 1,498 cases in 2024. According to her, these figures show a deeply alarming trend. Children’s mental health problems are often closely linked to experiences of violence. To address this issue, Rerie, who is also a member of House Commission X, emphasised the importance of involving children and other relevant stakeholders in the process of finding solutions. In this way, resulting policies will incorporate a child’s perspective, allowing efforts to be more comprehensive in improving children’s mental health. She also urged that the handling of violence cases and children’s mental health issues receive support and involve all related parties, as good mental health in children is a crucial foundation for the Indonesia Emas 2045 vision. “Without sound mental and psychological readiness, the next generation will struggle to face global challenges and continue the nation’s leadership relay,” she said.