MidLand, Jakarta – The Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology is making serious efforts to address the problem of bullying and all types of violence in schools. Especially because it can have long-term consequences, namely damaging the mental health of students. National survey of adolescent mental health in Indonesia in 2022, it is even estimated that 1 in 3 adolescents between the ages of 10 and 17 will suffer from mental disorders.
This note caused the Ministry of Education together with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to carry out a massive campaign throughout last year. Especially for teenage students when they are in middle school or middle school; high school (SMA); and vocational high schools (SMK). The aim is to explore the needs of each teenager in terms of mental health.
The director of the Center for Character Building at the Ministry of Education, Rusprita Putri Utami, said that between mid-November and December 2023 her group will carry out various series of presentations on mental health for adolescents. For example, providing skills and abilities in providing psychological first aid to oneself or other people who need it.
“We hope that what will be discussed in this webinar and workshop will be an excellent condition for all students to contribute to creating safe, comfortable and fun schools, free from violence,” Ruspita was quoted as saying on the Ministry’s official website. of Education Wednesday 21 February 2024.
Start knowing yourself and then overcome:
Asep Zulhijar, UNICEF Indonesia child protection officer, said adolescents between the ages of 9 and 14 need to understand that they will experience psychological and biological changes. For example, the tendency to explore with high intensity and always want to take high risks.
“Adolescents of that age need to be given knowledge and dispositions so that they can manage their emotions and be able to direct them towards positive things,” Asep said.
The self-presentation that Asep intends is that the brain in this age group is very vulnerable. This is because it is influenced by hormones and various other variables in human growth and development.
“But on the other hand we can use these times to grow optimally both physically and mentally. The most important thing is that life must be balanced, we must see how good we feel about ourselves and how much we know ourselves.”
What are some tips for maintaining mental health?
Acehnese youth representative Cut Vahnas Setya Martha also shared tips for maintaining mental health, especially avoiding close friendships. toxic or bad. Then there is the need for adolescents to participate in positive and useful activities.
The next tip is to not force yourself to do something that makes you stressed or depressed. Instead, you need to take the time to develop your interests and talents. “For example, joining a community or youth forum,” Cut Vahnas said.
“There are many ways to maintain our mental health. For example, if we are below or even feeling happy, we can try writing letters, listening to music, making exciting balloons, telling stories, drawing, meditating and engaging in hobbies. “If we experience bullying that breaks us down mentally, don’t be afraid to tell the story and report it to the authorities.”
Child psychologist Grace Eugenia Sameve says that good mental health occurs when someone is able to bring out their potential in an optimal way. That doesn’t mean good mental health is when someone never experiences stress, on the contrary, “good mental health is when someone is able to deal with the stress that they experience,” Grace said.
Then he remembered, bullying o Bullying is a factor that pushes adolescents to experience stress and triggers a decline in mental health. This happens in the short or long term. So whatever the type, he said bullying cannot be justified. “So it’s better for us to prevent bullying than to cure it,” Grace concluded.
The Acting Secretary of the Directorate General of Early Childhood, Primary and Secondary Education, Ministry of Education, Praptono, referred to 2021 data, namely that 24.4% of students have the potential to suffer episodes of bullying at school. It was then found that 22.4% of students had suffered sexual violence in educational units.
This observation prompted the institute to issue ministerial regulation number 46 of 2023 relating to the prevention and management of violence in the environments of educational units (PPKSP). The PPKSP serves as a means to prevent and manage violence because it is a comprehensive legal umbrella to prevent and manage violence in educational units.
AVIT HIDAYAT | DEVY ERNIS | MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, CULTURE AND TECHNOLOGY
Baca: Threats to adolescent mental health must be treated seriously
Quoted From Many Source
