The Indonesian Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) has revealed an alarming surge in the number of patients admitted to mental hospitals nationwide, primarily driven by increasing cases of game and online gambling addiction.
Dr. Imran Pambudi, Director of Health Services for Vulnerable Groups at Kemenkes, highlighted the significant scale of this issue, noting that 54 mental hospitals across Indonesia are currently engaged in managing addiction-related cases. “As mentioned earlier, regarding mental hospitals, there are indeed around 54 mental hospitals throughout Indonesia. And most of these mental hospitals also handle addiction problems,” Imran stated in Sarinah, Jakarta, on Friday, February 27th.
Escalating Trends Across Regions
Imran further elaborated that the types of addictions being treated extend beyond general internet dependency to specifically include online gambling (judol) and gaming. Notably, this upward trend in patient numbers is not confined to a single area.
“And indeed, recently, it has been reported that mental hospitals are experiencing an increase, Sir. Not only in East Java but in all regions,” he emphasized. To illustrate the severe impact, Imran cited the condition at Menur Mental Hospital, which has seen such a significant spike in inpatients due to addiction that its resources are strained. The hospital is now operating beyond capacity, requiring patients to be placed on a waiting list for admission to addiction treatment rooms.
Beyond Surabaya, similar increases in patient intake have also been reported at Marzoeki Mahdi Mental Hospital and Grogol Mental Hospital, underscoring the widespread nature of the challenge.
Data Verification Underway Amidst Visible Trends
Despite the undeniable observable trend of increasing addiction cases, Imran acknowledged that comprehensive national data still requires meticulous verification. “Yes, because the recording and reporting for addiction, especially for game and online gambling addiction, is not yet optimal, so it’s uneven. But the trend is visibly increasing,” he explained.
He added that the most pronounced spikes in addiction-related admissions are felt in major cities, particularly across the Java region, though specific detailed figures have not yet been publicly disclosed.
Summary
The Indonesian Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) has reported a significant surge in mental hospital admissions nationwide, primarily driven by increasing cases of game and online gambling addiction. Dr. Imran Pambudi highlighted that 54 mental hospitals across Indonesia are managing these addiction-related problems, with the upward trend observed across all regions.
Hospitals such as Menur Mental Hospital are reportedly strained, operating beyond capacity with patients on waiting lists for addiction treatment. Similar increases have been noted at Marzoeki Mahdi and Grogol Mental Hospitals. Kemenkes acknowledges that while comprehensive national data still requires verification due to uneven reporting, the trend of rising addiction cases is “visibly increasing,” especially in major cities across Java.