Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel — TikTok Indonesia has launched a mental health program in collaboration with WHO Indonesia, with support from the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection (PPPA). Aims to promote mental well-being among young people, TikTok will also engage mental health influencers, known as “Mindful Makers,” to help drive the initiative.
According to Tirto.id, the collaborative program between TikTok and WHO to enhance mental health awareness kicked off on Thursday afternoon, November 14 in Kota Tua, Jakarta, and set to run from November 2024 through April 2025.
TikTok Indonesia’s Communications Director, Anggini Setiawan, highlighted the company’s commitment to creating a safe digital space for mental health discussions.
“We are committed to supporting a digital environment where communities can thrive, learn, and foster meaningful connections. This initiative encourages open, honest, and supportive dialogues about mental health,” Anggini stated.
Addressing Mental Health Challenges Among Indonesian Youth
According to the Indonesia National Adolescent Mental Health Survey (I-NAMHS) conducted in 2022, one in three adolescents (34.9%), or approximately 15.5 million teens, face mental health issues. However, only 2.6% of them seek professional help or counseling. These statistics underscore the urgent need for collective efforts to raise mental health awareness for individuals, families, and communities.
WHO’s Deputy Representative for Indonesia, Momoe Takeuchi, emphasized WHO’s commitment to the program, which includes providing essential information and mobilizing its network of health professionals known as Fides.
“As part of this collaboration, we are pleased to leverage our Fides network of 11 health professionals in Indonesia to support TikTok’s initiative,” Momoe said.
The Fides network serves as a valuable resource for disseminating credible mental health information on social media platforms. “We hope this program encourages young people to feel more comfortable discussing and seeking support for mental health, thereby contributing to a healthier future,” Momoe added.
Leveraging Influencers to Promote Mental Health Awareness
The TikTok-WHO initiative includes content creation by WHO’s Fides network professionals, supported by local creators such as Farhan Zubaedi, Santi Yuliani, and Lucky Yogasatria. These influencers, referred to as Mindful Makers, will transform complex scientific research into easily digestible video content covering various health topics.
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This approach aligns with data from a 2022 YouGov and TikTok survey, which found that 77% of respondents in Indonesia feel comfortable talking about mental health. Of these, over 50% choose to confide in family members, 52% consult professionals like psychologists, and 40% seek advice from close friends.
TikTok and WHO will also provide training resources and access to programs for selected short-video creators, enabling them to produce and spread credible mental health content.
A Collaborative Approach to Tackling Mental Health Issues
Marshiella Pandji, TikTok Indonesia’s Public Policy & Government Relations lead, stressed the importance of a collaborative approach.
“We believe that collaboration between digital platforms, the government, creators, and non-profit organizations is essential. The complexity of mental health issues cannot be addressed by one party alone,” Marshiella said in a press statement on Friday, November 15.
Deputy Minister of PPPA, Veronica Tan acknowledged the significant impact of TikTok as a platform with extensive reach. She noted that while TikTok can have both positive and negative effects, this initiative is a step in the right direction for spreading mental health education.
“I hope this becomes a movement. With TikTok’s extensive reach, we can turn this into a powerful campaign to educate and support those already struggling with mental health issues,” Veronica concluded.
This collaborative program marks a significant step toward leveraging social media, particularly TikTok to promote mental health awareness in Indonesia, aiming to create a supportive digital environment for open discussions and meaningful connections.
(Raidi/Agung)
