The cooperation was formalized through the signing of a Joint Decree on Children's Mental Health in Jakarta on Thursday.
Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Pratikno, one of the signatories, highlighted the urgency of the initiative following a number of recent suicide and violence cases involving Indonesian children.
“The trend of mental health cases among children continues to rise. Child suicide has also increased,” he said.
He noted that the risk factors behind the problem are complex and spread across multiple sectors, making it impossible for a single ministry to address the issue alone.
The Minister of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection and the Minister of Health have therefore called for stronger collaboration among institutions to tackle children’s mental health problems.
Pratikno said each stakeholder involved in the decree has specific responsibilities in the effort, ranging from addressing family problems — often the root cause of psychological distress — to preventing violence in schools and madrasahs, or Islamic schools, as well as managing children’s exposure to harmful social media content.
He added that cooperation among government institutions and social stakeholders is crucial, particularly in public education, outreach programs and early detection measures aimed at preventing mental health problems before they escalate.
“We must ensure our policies are comprehensive and fully implemented, covering promotion, prevention, treatment and rehabilitation. At the same time, these policies must be carried out in an integrated manner,” Pratikno said.
Earlier, Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) member Diyah Puspitarini warned that the country was facing what she described as a child suicide emergency.
“In 2023, 46 children took their own lives; in 2024, there were 43 child suicides; and in 2025, there were 26. So far in 2026, three children have already died by suicide,” she said when contacted on Feb. 4.
She said the main drivers behind child suicide cases include bullying, followed by parenting problems, economic pressures, excessive online gaming and romantic relationship issues among adolescents.
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Translator: Prisca Triferna, Raka Adji
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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