Yogyakarta, May 4, 2026— Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, in collaboration with the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Cultural Affairs responded to mental health issues in Gunung Kidul.
Gunung Kidul has one of the highest suicide rates in Indonesia, exacerbated by the cultural myth of “pulung gantung.” The Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Cultural Affairs is taking the mental health crisis in Gunung Kidul seriously, recognizing the need for a comprehensive approach to addressing this issue. Katiman, Assistant Deputy for Research, Technology, and Industrial Partnerships at the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Cultural Affairs, emphasized the importance of cross-sectoral and interdisciplinary collaboration on this issue. “We ask for your assistance in mapping the issues in Gunung Kidul. What additional factors need to be considered? From psychology, medicine, agriculture, geography, and others. This will form the basis for our future,” he said.
In addition to the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIPOL), other faculties such as Psychology, Agriculture, Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing (FKKMK), and Geography also provide a holistic perspective in addressing the mental health crisis. This collaborative effort aims to empower local communities by bringing together different disciplines to develop effective solutions.
One speaker, Rahmat Hidayat, Dean of the Faculty of Psychology, emphasized that depression in the community reflects unaddressed structural problems. “Behind every suicide is a significant psychological, social, economic, and cultural problem. Therefore, the significance lies not only in the suicide rate, which in Gunung Kidul has been trending very high year after year. But also in the underlying issues underlying suicides,” he said.
Furthermore, speakers from other faculties emphasized that this problem is not simply an individual issue, but rather a complex structural challenge that requires cross-sector and cross-disciplinary collaboration. The need for a holistic strategy is crucial to effectively reduce the risk of disasters associated with the mental health crisis.
The collaboration between the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Cultural Affairs (Kemenko PMK) and Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) is a significant step towards empowering local communities in Gunungkidul. By encouraging collaboration across academic disciplines, this initiative aims to develop holistic strategies that address the root causes of mental health issues, rather than simply treating the symptoms.
The event also highlighted mental health as a crucial component of overall public health, aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that focus on health and well-being.
The collaboration between the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Cultural Affairs (Kemenko PMK) and the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIPOL) of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) marks an important milestone in addressing mental health issues in Gunungkidul. Through empowerment, collaboration, and a holistic approach, this initiative aims to create sustainable solutions that will ultimately reduce the risk of a mental health crisis in the region.