Millions of Indonesian Teenagers Diagnosed with Mental Health Disorders: Here Are the Types

The Indonesian National Adolescent Mental Health Survey (I-NAMHS) report reveals that 1 in 3 Indonesian adolescents aged 10-17 years have mental health problems. Meanwhile, 1 in 20 Indonesian adolescents experienced a mental disorder in the past 12 months.

According to data from Gadjah Mada University (UGM), these figures equate to 15.5 million and 2.45 million adolescents, respectively.

These adolescents are those diagnosed with mental disorders according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), the diagnostic guideline used in Indonesia.

“Adolescents with mental disorders experience disruptions or difficulties in their daily lives caused by the symptoms of their mental disorder,” stated Siswanto Agus Wilopo, the principal investigator of I-NAMHS, at the Grand Melia Hotel, South Jakarta, on Thursday, October 20, 2022, as reported on the UGM website.

The most prevalent mental disorders among adolescents are anxiety disorders (a combination of social phobia and generalized anxiety disorder) at 3.7%.

This is followed by major depressive disorder at 1.0%, and conduct disorder at 0.9%.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) each account for 0.5%.

This proportion is quite alarming, considering that almost 20% of Indonesia's total population falls within the 10-19 age range.

Siswanto even noted that only 2.6% of adolescents with mental health problems utilized mental health services or counseling to help them cope with their emotional and behavioral issues in the past 12 months.

(See also: Only a Small Percentage of Indonesians Consult Professionals When Dealing with Mental Health Disorder Symptoms)

"This figure is still very small compared to the actual number of adolescents who need help in addressing their mental health problems," said Siswanto.

For information, I-NAMHS is part of the National Adolescent Mental Health Survey, with research also conducted in Kenya and Vietnam. This research is a collaboration with UGM, the University of Queensland Australia, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health USA, the Indonesian Ministry of Health, Universitas Sumatera Utara, and Universitas Hasanuddin.

I-NAMHS focuses on calculating the disease burden or prevalence of six of the most common mental disorders among adolescents: social phobia, generalized anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, conduct disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

I-NAMHS also identifies risk and protective factors associated with adolescent mental disorders, such as bullying, school and education, peer and family relationships, sexual behavior, substance use, traumatic childhood experiences, and healthcare utilization.

The following are the types of mental health disorders experienced by adolescents aged 10-17 years:

* Anxiety disorders (social phobia and generalized anxiety disorder) at 3.7%
* Major depressive disorder (1.0%)
* Conduct disorder (0.9%)
* Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) 0.5%
* Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) 0.5%

(See also: There are still people with mental disorders who are restrained until the second quarter of 2022)