Jakarta, JurnalPost.com — Mental health issues are becoming increasingly complex and are no longer limited to individuals experiencing psychological disorders. Academic pressure, heavy workloads, family problems, and socio-economic conditions have made mental health a concern that requires attention from various parties.
Addressing these issues is not enough if it relies solely on psychologists and psychiatrists. Support from educational institutions, the government, the business world, medical personnel, human resource managers, and health financing providers is necessary to build a more effective prevention system.
These issues were the focus of the National Seminar for World Mental Health Day (World Mental Health Day) held at the Tarumanagara University (Untar) Auditorium in Jakarta on Saturday (10/10/2026).
The seminar, themed “From Reactive to Intelligent Prevention: AI-Powered Workforce Readiness, Psychosocial Risk & Preventive Mental Health” discussed the importance of shifting the approach to mental health. Treatment should not only occur when someone is in crisis but must begin through early detection, risk management, and ongoing support.
The urgency of this shift is highlighted by a 2025 World Health Organization (WHO) report, which estimates that more than one billion people worldwide live with mental health conditions.
Meanwhile, in Indonesia, the results of the Indonesia–National Adolescent Mental Health Survey (I-NAMHS) show that approximately 34.9 percent of adolescents aged 10–17 have experienced mental health problems in the last 12 months. Of the adolescent population studied, 5.5 percent met the criteria for a mental disorder.
These findings demonstrate that mental health issues require serious handling, as well as a proper understanding of the distinction between psychological problems and mental disorders that require professional diagnosis.
Early Detection Must Be Followed by Concrete Action
One of the issues receiving attention during the seminar was the effectiveness of mental health screening.
In the first session, themed Preventive Mental Health Intelligence, four speakers discussed mental health prevention from various perspectives.
They were Prof. Dr. Abdul Kadir, former Director General at the Ministry of Health and former Chairman of the Supervisory Board of BPJS Kesehatan; Dr. P. Tommy Y. S. Suyasa, M.Si., Psychologist, Dean of the Faculty of Psychology at Untar; Dr. Sumaryono Sri Noto, M.Si., Psychologist, Chairman of the Indonesian Industrial and Organizational Psychology Association (APIO); and David Wongso, S.Psi., MM, MBA, Psychologist, founder of DexWellness.
The discussion focused not only on how to identify individuals at risk of mental health disorders but also on the actions to be taken once that risk is identified.
From a public health perspective, screening must be part of a service system that includes follow-up mechanisms, such as further examinations, professional support, financing, and referrals.
Without such a system, mental health screenings risk producing only statistical data without providing direct benefits to individuals in need of help.
The accuracy of screenings is also a concern. The instruments used to assess psychological conditions must have scientifically accountable validity and reliability.
Technological advancements do allow individuals to undergo psychological screenings via digital applications. However, the results cannot be immediately considered a clinical diagnosis.
Misinterpreting screening results can lead to negative labeling, social stigma, and discrimination. Therefore, the development of digital screening systems must prioritize professional competence and personal data protection.
In the context of the workplace, mental health issues must also be viewed through the lens of the organizational environment.
Employees experiencing prolonged stress are not always suffering due to an individual inability to handle pressure. Excessive workloads, unhealthy leadership, lack of rest, and poor work culture can be primary causes.
This means that stress management training and counseling services must be accompanied by evaluations of the company's work systems.
This approach aligns with the ISO 45003:2021 standard, which provides guidance on managing psychosocial risks within occupational health and safety systems.
Mental Health is Linked to Workplace Safety
The second session of the seminar was themed Workforce Readiness Intelligence, which discussed the relationship between mental health, worker readiness, and operational safety.
Speakers in this session included Dr. Retno Hanggarani Ninin, Psychologist, Dean of the Faculty of Psychology at Padjadjaran University; Elviera Putri, MBA, Head of Safety Asia at Thiess Indonesia; Dr. dr. Ernawati, SE, MS, Sp.KKLP, from the Untar Faculty of Medicine; and David Wongso from DexWellness.
One of the topics discussed was the difference between being medically fit (fitness) and being ready to perform a job (readiness).
A worker may be declared healthy and possess adequate professional skills, but they may not necessarily be in an optimal condition to perform specific tasks.
For example, an experienced and certified heavy equipment operator can still experience a decline in concentration due to lack of sleep, fatigue, or emotional pressure.
Such conditions potentially increase the risk of accidents, especially in sectors that demand precision and rapid decision-making.
Therefore, work readiness must be understood as a condition that can fluctuate, influenced by physical health, psychological state, cognitive ability, and the situation the worker faces.
Companies also have a responsibility to control these risk factors through work hour management, task distribution, the provision of rest periods, and the implementation of a safety culture.
This issue is increasingly critical in the mining, transportation, aviation, oil and gas, and manufacturing sectors.
In 2022, the WHO and the International Labour Organization (ILO) emphasized the importance of coordinated action to protect mental health in the workplace.
Thus, the mental health of workers cannot be separated from management responsibility and the sustainability of company operations.
AI Technology is Not a Substitute for Professionals
The use of artificial intelligence or artificial intelligence (AI) was a key topic of discussion during the seminar.
AI technology is considered to have the potential to assist mental health prevention systems, particularly in analyzing data, identifying changes in psychological conditions, and supporting the process of determining support needs.
In the industrial world, for example, AI-based systems can be used to help recognize patterns of worker fatigue based on data collected over time.
This information can be used as a basis for developing prevention and risk management policies.
However, the application of AI in mental health services is not without challenges.
In 2024, the WHO warned of risks such as algorithmic bias, inaccurate information, privacy violations, and an over-reliance on technology in healthcare services.
Therefore, the use of AI must apply the human-in-the-loopprinciple, ensuring that humans retain control over decisions that affect individual lives and safety.
Psychological assessment, diagnosis, and medical decision-making still require the involvement of professionals who possess competence and ethical responsibility.
Humans should not be viewed merely as a collection of data or risk figures generated by algorithms.
Technology should help accelerate the delivery of aid, improve service accuracy, and expand public access to mental health support without disregarding privacy or human dignity.
Collaboration is Needed at the Organizational Level
Addressing mental health also requires the involvement of various sectors because the sources of these problems are often interconnected.
A student facing academic pressure, for example, may also be experiencing financial difficulties and family problems.
In such conditions, psychological counseling alone may not be enough. The student may need support from academic advisors, family, health services, and financial aid from the university.
A similar situation can occur in a corporate environment.
When workers experience pressure due to an unbalanced workload or a poor leadership culture, the organization needs to make improvements rather than just asking workers to increase their mental resilience.
The economic impact of mental health issues is also significant.
The WHO estimates that depression and anxiety cause the loss of approximately 12 billion working days annually worldwide, with productivity losses reaching about one trillion US dollars.
These figures show that mental health is not just a personal issue but is also linked to productivity and organizational sustainability.
The involvement of the government, companies, educational institutions, and insurance and health financing providers is essential so that the public has access to adequate prevention and treatment services.
Attention must also reach people outside the formal employment sector, including informal workers, homemakers, the elderly, disaster survivors, and families with limited economic means.
This is because the need for good mental health is part of every human life, not just for the productive age group.
Promoting a 90-Day Action Plan
The seminar discussion did not stop at mapping problems and prevention ideas.
In the Call to Actionsession, Prof. Dr. Henndy Ginting, Psychologist, from the School of Business and Management at the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB), encouraged that mental health awareness be translated into policies and concrete actions at the organizational level.
One approach that can be developed is a 90-day action plan.
In the first 30 days, organizations can map sources of psychosocial risk and identify available mental health services.
Entering the second month, attention is directed toward establishing coordination mechanisms between psychologists, doctors, human resources departments, occupational safety officers, and health financing providers.
Subsequently, in the third month, organizations can begin running pilot projects for early detection and preventive intervention, accompanied by evaluations of their effectiveness.
Universities also play an important role in supporting this approach through interdisciplinary research, the development of scientifically tested screening instruments, and the drafting of evidence-based policy recommendations.
The 2026 National Seminar on World Mental Health Day at Tarumanagara University demonstrated that mental health issues require a broader approach than just treatment.
Collaboration between psychologists, doctors, academics, industry practitioners, occupational safety managers, the government, and technology developers is a step toward building a more comprehensive prevention system.
Screening must be followed by concrete help. Counseling services need to be supported by a healthy social and organizational environment. Meanwhile, technology must be utilized while respecting the rights, privacy, and dignity of every individual.
Ultimately, the success of mental health management is measured not only by the ability to overcome existing disorders but also by the extent to which society can build systems that prevent psychological problems from escalating into crises.
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