Jakarta – Schizophrenia is a chronic and severe mental disorder that affects the way a person thinks, acts, expresses emotions, understands reality, and relates to other people.
This condition is not as common as other serious mental illnesses, affecting less than 1 percent of the adult population in the United States (US), but it is indeed one of the most chronic and disabling.
In contrast to the US, it turns out that schizophrenia is the most common mental illness in Indonesia.
Schizophrenia is the most common mental problem in Indonesia
Table of Contents
Reported from the page detikcom, Schizophrenia is the mental health problem wiht the highest number of cases in Indonesia. This is based on the number of BPJS claims with the largest value in the 2020-2024 period.
Simultaneously occurring, the Indonesian Ministry of Health also shows that the highest number of people suffering from mental disorders in Indonesia is in the provinces of DKI Jakarta (24.3 percent), Nagroe Aceh Darusalam (18.5 percent),West Sumatra (17.7 percent), NTB (10.9 percent), South Sumatra (9.2 percent), and Central java (6.8 percent).
Based on the results of Basic Health Research (Riskesdas) in 2013, the prevalence of emotional mental disorders with symptoms of depression and anxiety for those aged 15 years and over was 6 percent or around 14 million people.
Simultaneously occurring, the prevalence of serious mental disorders such as schizophrenia is 1.7 per 1000 population or around 400,000 people.
Causes of schizophrenia
Schizophrenia likely develops when genetic and environmental factors combine. For example, the following factors may all contribute to the progress of this mental condition.
1. Genetics
If there is no family history of schizophrenia, the risk of developing schizophrenia is low. However, a person’s risk increases when one of their parents is diagnosed with this mental condition.
2. Chemical imbalance in the brain
Reported from the page Medical News Today, Schizophrenia appears to develop when there is an imbalance of the neurotransmitters dopamine and possibly serotonin in the brain.
3. environmental factors
Environmental factors that can increase the risk of schizophrenia include trauma during birth, malnutrition before birth, viral infections, and psychosocial factors, such as trauma.
4. Use of marijuana
Researchers found a link between marijuana use disorders and schizophrenia. A 2023 study suggests that up to 30 percent of schizophrenia cases among men aged 21-30 may have a link to marijuana use disorder.
In 2017,scientists found evidence suggesting that some substances in marijuana can trigger schizophrenia in those