“Our screen time is too high, more than 7.5 hours. Even children under two years old are experiencing significant screen exposure,” the minister said here on Wednesday.
He explained that excessive screen use affects mental health, social skills, and children’s growth and development. He said the trend poses a serious threat to public health and must be addressed immediately.
Findings from free health checkups indicate a growing number of early signs of mental health problems among Indonesians, including children and teens, he noted.
He said shifting behaviours and habits due to technological disruption have led more young people to spend time online. One of the main contributing factors is screen time that exceeds safe limits, he added.
The minister stressed that health is the foundation for nurturing great talents. Therefore, comprehensive interventions are needed to protect children from gadget addiction.
One initiative that must be prioritized is providing facilities that encourage children and teenagers to engage in face-to-face interactions, Pratikno said. Through direct social interaction, he added, mental health concerns are expected to decline.
He noted that President Prabowo Subianto places strong emphasis on national health, as shown through key initiatives such as free health checkups, hospital development, and specialist scholarship programs.
Mental health issues are a national concern that require cross-sector collaboration, he said. He urged all stakeholders to strengthen children’s social ecosystems in order to prevent further harm.
On Friday, November 21, the Health Ministry’s lead for early detection and prevention of mental health issues and drug use, Yunita Arihandayani, said the national depression rate stands at 1.4 percent. In Jakarta, the figure is 1.5 percent, she added.
She said West Java is the province with the highest prevalence of mental health issues, recorded at 4.4 percent. The figure exceeds the national average of 2 percent, according to the 2023 National Health Survey (SKI).
Mental health issues are among the 10 most common health problems found in people aged 15 and above, she noted. Arihandayani added that only a small portion of people with conditions such as depression or anxiety seek therapy.
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Reporter: Mecca Yumna Ning Prisie
Editor: Primayanti
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