MagadanIDN Times – The latest data for 2024 from the Magetan District Health Service, East Java, shows worrying results. 483 Generation Alpha teenagers born between 2010 and 2025 were found to have mental problems. This figure was obtained from the results of mental health screenings carried out in several schools.
1. Increase in mental problems among Indonesian teenagers
This case in Magetan is in accordance with national findings showing an increase in mental health problems in teenagers. According to the Indonesian National Youth Mental Health Survey (I-NAMHS) in collaboration with Gadjah Mada University (UGM), one in three Indonesian teenagers between 10 and 17 years old experience mental health problems.
In fact, one in twenty teenagers in that age range is diagnosed with a mental disorder each year. Commonly diagnosed problems include social phobia, anxiety disorders, depression, and ADHD. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), it is estimated that about 15.5 million teenagers in Indonesia experience mental health problems, and another 2.45 million experience more serious disorders.
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2. Screening in Magetan found 483 teenagers with mental problems
Suwantiyo, Head of the Disease Control and Environmental Health (P2P) Division of the Magetan Health Service. IDN Times / Riyanto.The Head of the Disease Control and Environmental Health (P2P) Division of the Magetan Health Service, Suwantiyo, explained that the health team had conducted screening in schools to detect mental problems early.
From the results of this screening, 483 teenagers were found to have symptoms of mental disorders. However, Suwantiyo said, only a small number of them were in serious condition and needed treatment from a psychiatrist.
“The main reason is the excessive use of devices from an early age, which has the potential to promote social phobia. Children tend to avoid direct social interaction,” he told IDN Times on Tuesday (15/10/2024).
3. The importance of education and assistance in dealing with emergencies
Picture. IDN Times / Riyanto.To overcome this mental health crisis, the Magetan Health Service together with the local government continues to try to reduce the risk of mental illnesses in teenagers through various educational programs and social activities. Suwantiyo emphasized the importance of schools engaging in physical activities such as sports, scouting or martial arts as a way to reduce children’s dependence on devices.
In addition, health workers in the community are also active in providing education to parents about the importance of paying attention to their children’s activities. According to Suwantiyo, this mental health problem is not only a challenge in Magetan, but also throughout Indonesia, and it needs serious attention from families, schools and the government.
“Maintaining the mental health of the younger generation is the best way to realize the demographic bonus and the vision of Golden Indonesia 2045,” he said.
With the increasing number of cases in Magetan, Suwantiyo’s message is an important warning for all parties to fully support the mental health of adolescents. Generation Alpha, as the hope of the future, must receive serious attention in maintaining their mental health so that they can grow and develop in the best possible way.
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2024-10-15 12:10:00
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