January 19, 2026 | 09:11 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia’s Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin has projected that up to 28 million Indonesians may be experiencing mental health issues, based on estimates drawn from World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines.
Speaking during a working meeting with the House of Representatives’ Commission IX in Jakarta on Monday, January 19, 2026, Budi said international standards suggest that around one in ten people in any population may face mental health problems.
“With Indonesia’s population of roughly 280 million, that means at least 28 million people could be experiencing mental health issues,” he said.
Budi noted that mental health conditions in Indonesia range widely, from mild to severe disorders. These include depression, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
He acknowledged that recent free health screening programs recorded relatively low detection rates, with mental health disorders identified in less than one percent of adults and around five percent of children.
However, Budi emphasized that the screenings serve as an initial step to identify potential cases within the community.
“The screening is not the final measure, but an entry point for early detection,” he said.
To improve access to care, the Ministry of Health is expanding mental health services at community health centers, locally known as puskesmas, across the country.
“We are building a system so mental health services can be provided at the puskesmas level,” Budi said.
The facilities will offer counseling services by psychologists as well as access to medication for mental health disorders, positioning community health centers as the first point of referral for those seeking treatment.
According to Health Ministry data from 2023, the provinces with the highest prevalence of mental health disorders include Jakarta, at 24.3 percent, followed by Aceh at 18.5 percent, West Sumatra at 17.7 percent, West Nusa Tenggara at 10.9 percent, South Sumatra at 9.2 percent, and Central Java at 6.8 percent.
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