The Faculty of Public Health (FPH) Universitas Indonesia (UI) held a Guest Lecture and Book Review “Preventing Teen Suicide: Come on, Detect!” on Friday, 11 November 2022. This event sponsored by KOMPAS Publisher was held in a hybrid manner in Hall G of FPH UI and Platform Zoom Meeting.
At the beginning of the event there were various remarks from parties who participated enthusiastically and supported the publication of this book. The remarks were delivered by the Secretary of the University, University of Indonesia, dr. Agustin Kusumayati, M.Sc., Ph.D; Dean of FPH UI, Prof. dr. Mondastri Korib Sudaryo, M.S., D.Sc.; FPH UI Student Affairs Manager, Dien Anshari, S.Sos., M.Sc., Ph.D .; and Deputy Managing Editor of KOMPAS Daily, Haryo Damardono.
The Keynote Speech on mental health in adolescents and young adults was delivered by the Head of the FPH UI Reproductive Health Study Group, Prof. Dr. dr. Sabarinah, M.Sc. Adolescents and young adults are in a transitional period where according to a survey, around 20.5% experience emotional problems. “The emotional disturbance earlier can lead to several disorders, such as anxiety, depression and stress,” said Prof. Patience. WHO data even shows that suicide is the 4th highest cause of death in the population aged 15-29 years. Therefore, UI itself has several efforts to prevent mental health disorders such as the SePI Application, Self-Learning Modules for strengthening, and webinars on mental health.
The event continued with a book review “Preventing Teenage Suicide: Come on, Detect!” which was peeled directly by the author, Dr. dr. Nova Riyanti Yusuf, Sp.KJ. This book is modification of the dissertation written by Dr. Nova during his studies at FPH UI. The presentation in last Friday’s session was divided into 3 (three): the writing process, the research process, and youth and the pandemic. Doctor Nova has been paying attention to adolescent mental health since 2012 through his innovation entitled Mobile Mental Health Service (MMHS), a mobile mental health service. The research process itself begins with studies showing that 50-70% of psychiatrists will lose at least one patient to suicide. “Suicide risk is important to measure because it is the first step in suicide prevention,” said Dr. Nova. Dr.’s findings Nova has also been published in various scientific journals and is also the basis of instruments on suicide prevention and treatment guidelines.
The book “Preventing Teen Suicide: Come on, Detect!” itself is the popularization of suicide risk factors in adolescents. While the SePI application was then developed as an application for individual identification of risk factors, to get a professional assistance link.
Before proceeding to the discussion, there are side notes delivered by Mischka Aoki and Devon Kei Enzo, teenage brothers aged 13 and 12 who won various Mathematics and Science Olympiads. Mischka and Devon expressed their concern about the increasing number of mental health problems and how related parties, especially schools, need to improve mental health efforts.
Furthermore, UI Lecturer at the Faculty of Medicine (FK) Dr. dr. Fransiska Kaligis, Sp.KJ(K), was present as a discussant. Social media is a big factor for teenagers in generating suicidal ideas and actions. To prevent suicide, the family is a key factor that plays an important role. Cross-sectoral cooperation is also needed where schools or educational institutions can be one of the sectors.
This activity is not the first time FPH UI has raised mental health issues. Going forward, FPH UI is committed to continuing to support activities that will enrich public knowledge, especially in the field of mental health. (BK)
