Mental Health Problems Among Adolescent Students

Abstract

Concern for adolescents usually focuses on physical problems, such as reproductive health and nutrition, including anemia and obesity. Nowadays, adolescent mental health has been recognized as essential, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Mental health problems that often occur in adolescents include anxiety, depression, and the risk of suicide. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of mental health problems and the risk of suicide among adolescent students in Bali Province, Indonesia. The sample consisted of 435 students from four junior high schools (Grades 7, 8, and 9) aged 12–15 years who were selected with a multistage sampling technique. This descriptive study applied the Indonesian version of the Pediatrics Symptom Checklist-Youth (PSC-Y) report. The results showed that 14.5% of adolescent students experienced mental health problems, and 6.7% had a risk of suicide. Screening for adolescent mental health, especially in school, is important to ensure normal development and detect mental health problems as early as possible.