Jakarta, March 11 -- Indonesia's 2025-2026 Free Health Check (CKG) programme has found indications of mental health problems, mainly anxiety and depression, in nearly 10% of about 7 million children screened, a figure considered significant.
Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said on March 9 that 4.4%, or around 338,000 children, showed symptoms of anxiety disorders, while 4.8%, or about 363,000, showed signs of depression, indicating that mental health issues among children are significant and require serious attention.
According to the minister, psychological problems among children could lead to suicidal behaviour if not addressed in time. Data from the Global School-Based Student Health Survey show that the proportion of children who...