Mental Health Emergency in Education

The recent surge in suicides among university students highlight the presence of profound issues within the education system. The string of tragic incidents in Yogyakarta, Semarang, Padang, Bandung, Kupang, Jakarta, and Curup is not an isolated incident. Rather, it may represent an iceberg phenomenon, revealing the tip of a complex array of psychological problems within the educational environment. Unfortunately, these challenges have been overlooked and lack a comprehensive solution.

No doubt, the varied psychological challenges in today's education system are intricately linked to the larger context of Indonesian and global society. The decline in mental health, worsened by the Covid-19 pandemic, has made a lasting impact. According to a 2021 global risk research collaboration by the World Economic Forum (WEF) and Zurich Insurance Group, a significant 80 percent of young people worldwide have faced worsening mental health conditions during the ongoing pandemic.

According to Katadata Databox, a staggering 1 in 3 Indonesian adolescents, aged 10 to 17 years, grapples with mental health problems. This alarming statistic equates to approximately 15.5 million adolescents. The concern is magnified when we consider that adolescents aged 10-19 years make up 20% of Indonesia's total population.

The fragile mental health conditions faced by today's young generation are susceptible to severe psychological issues that can detrimentally impact the quality of human life, both mentally and physically. Generally, the decline in mental health is marked by several conditions, such as excessive anxiety or intense emotional tension, unexplained fatigue, significant disruptions in eating and sleeping patterns, impaired concentration, social isolation, decreased productivity, uncontrollable physical symptoms, negative thought, and suicidal thought.

Contemplating this concerning phenomenon, addressing this issue should be a collective concern for all components of the nation through concerted and simultaneous efforts. Furthermore, this problem has disrupted a fundamental element of education which is students with very serious consequences. Education, being one of the nation's tools for enhancing the quality of human resources, must take strategic and applicable measures. Dealing with this crucial issue should not be oversimplified by educational institutions; instead, a comprehensive approach that addresses the root of the problem is essential. For instance, preserving the mental health of students in higher education requires more than just implementing a ban on “dosen killer” (Indonesian slang to describe grumpy lecturer).

Educational institutions should prioritize mental health by systematically integrating these concerns into all educational activities, encompassing both preventive and curative measures. The educational system must be safeguarded against psychological issues and geared towards initiatives that foster and uphold psychological well-being. Institutions of education should serve as a place for shaping civilization and offering solutions to life's challenges.

At this point, educational institutions are reminded of the intrinsic nature of education which is an intentional endeavor to unfold the God-given potential within individuals, aiming to nurture them into fully realized human beings, insan kamil.

Written by: Dr. Minsih, S.Ag., M.Pd. (Secretary of the Master of Primary Education Study Program and Head of the Disability Services Research Center at Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta)