Creating a Digital Environment that Supports Youth Mental Health
This is a Response to the Kesehatan wikithon
Did you know that according to the Indonesian Ministry of Health, approximately 15.6 million people in Indonesia suffer from mental health disorders, yet only a small percentage seek professional help? This issue is particularly alarming among teenagers who face social pressure, family expectations, and a lack of mental health education.
In today’s digital era, many teenagers especially in Makassar face mental health issues due to social pressure, family expectations, and a lack of mental health education. From the results of the PSYNVINITY 23 research sample, Faculty of Psychology, State University of Makassar which was conducted in 10 Senior High Schools in Makassar City. This means that most teenagers rely more on friends and family rather than experts.
Mental health is a condition where a person feels emotionally and psychologically well, affecting their thoughts, feelings, and actions. Unfortunately, negative stigma often prevents teenagers from opening up and seeking help. One possible solution is to create an online campaign and an educational podcast. The online campaign can feature content on stress management, the importance of talking to trusted people, and recognizing signs of mental health disorders. Meanwhile, the podcast can include psychologists, teenagers sharing their experiences, and discussions on the stigma surrounding mental health in society.
This program will actively involve students as change agents in spreading positive mental health information. Additionally, the South Sulawesi Generasi Berencana (GenRe) Forum will play a crucial role in implementing this initiative by providing support, resources, and experts in the field of youth mental health.
To ensure the success of this idea, the approach must be engaging and easily accessible to teenagers. Using social media as the primary platform, information can be presented in the form of short videos, infographics, and interactive discussion sessions. This way, awareness of mental health can increase, and the stigma associated with it can be reduced.To ensure the effectiveness of this program, the government is encouraged to: 1. Integrate mental health education into school curricula to raise awareness from an early age. 2. Provide free or subsidized mental health consultation services in schools and community centers. 3. Increase awareness through national campaigns involving social media, influencers, and youth communities. 4. Strengthen regulations regarding safer social media use that supports youth mental well-being. 5. Promote collaboration between healthcare institutions, educational bodies, and local communities to create a supportive environment for mental health.
With these online campaigns and podcasts, teenagers can access accurate information and increase their awareness of mental health. Moreover, since social media and the internet are their primary sources of information 48.7 percent, this digital approach is highly effective. By creating a supportive digital environment, we can help teenagers be more open and receive the support they need.- Affiliation
- FLP Ranting Universitas Hasanuddin
- Age
- 16-21
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