Countries are asked not to ignore the emergency condition of child suicide cases

Member of Commission VIII of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Dini Rahmania, assessed that the trend of child suicide cases in Indonesia which increased to the highest number in Southeast Asia made the situation an emergency child protection category.

He emphasized that each case is a collective failure in protecting the next generation of the nation. He said, the latest case that occurred in Ngada, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) was a reminder that this issue does not know the boundaries of territory, social status, or economic background.

"We can no longer view it as an individual event. This is a systemic problem," said Dini, Sunday, February 15.

He urged the government to do three important things. First, strengthen the early detection system for children's mental health, where schools should be a safe space, not a pressure room. Therefore, mental health literacy must be an integral part of the education system.

Second, the government must strengthen cross-ministry coordination. According to him, handling this issue cannot be done alone. Synergy is needed between the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, the Ministry of Religion, the Ministry of Social Affairs, and the Ministry of Empowerment of Women and Child Protection in building an integrated protection system.

Third, strengthen family resilience. Dini said that many cases of child suicide are rooted in social pressure, bullying, domestic violence, to economic burdens. Social assistance and family support programs must be sensitive to children's mental health. "We must not wait for more victims to move. The state must be present preventively, not just reactive after the tragedy occurs," he said.

Previously, the Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) revealed the fact that Indonesia ranks highest in child suicide cases in the Southeast Asian region. The KPAI considers this condition to have entered an emergency phase and requires extraordinary handling from all elements of the nation, ranging from families, schools, to the government.

Based on KPAI data, there is a trend of increasing cases from year to year. In 2023, 46 cases were recorded, then 43 cases in 2024, and 2025 recorded 26 cases. The biggest factor that encourages children to end their lives is bullying, followed by parenting patterns, economic pressure, the influence of online games, and romantic problems.