Everyone deserves quality mental health services, and it requires collective efforts from various parties and various programs to prevent and handle mental health problems.Jakarta (ANTARA) - The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on people’s mental health due to the loss of relatives, jobs, and outdoor social activities, mental health director at the Health Ministry, Vensya Sitohang has said.
"Several studies have shown an increase in depression and anxiety cases throughout the pandemic," she noted during a webinar held to commemorate World Mental Health Day on Friday.
"In fact, one in three people who suffer from COVID-19 also suffer from psychological distress," she added.
The pandemic has caused its own stress due to isolation, including for health workers, frontline workers, and people with chronic diseases.
According to the World Health Organization’s (WHO’s) research in 2017, depression that leads to suicide often occurs among teenagers aged 10 to 19 years who have anxiety, behavioral problems, and abuse drugs, she highlighted.
Moreover, the research stated that suicide most frequently occurs globally among 20 years old in middle- and low-income countries, she said.
Related news: Child with mental disorder granted wish to return to school
In 2015, the Health Ministry conducted a survey that showed that the desire to commit suicide among middle and high school teenagers was 4.3 percent among males and 5.9 percent among females.
Teenagers aged 10 to 19 years undergo various changes, physical, emotional, and social. This includes exposure to poverty, harassment, or violence that can make them vulnerable to mental health issues.
Teenagers may encounter problems in relation to school lessons, relationship with parents, issues with close friends or lovers, and sibling rivalry, she explained.
Teenagers with mental health problems and mental disorders are very vulnerable to exclusion, social discrimination, stigmatization, educational troubles, risky behaviors, and human rights violations, Sitohang informed.
Related news: Minister instructs release of mentally disabled shackled person
On the commemoration of World Mental Health Day, the ministry said it expects everyone with mental disorders to receive quality treatment and improve their awareness about the importance of mental health.
"Everyone deserves quality mental health services, and it requires collective efforts from various parties and various programs to prevent and handle mental health problems," she remarked.
As the nation's successors, teenagers are expected to have a healthy mind and be ready to confront global challenges to develop Indonesia and become capable of competing on the international stage, she added.
Related news: Ministry bolsters mental health through referral transformation
Related news: BPJS Kesehatan must cover treatment of self-inflicted injuries
Translator: Fitra Ashari, Fadhli Ruhman
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2022
