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According to a U-Report poll conducted in August 2020 with over 600 participants

from around the country, more than half of respondents (53 per cent) said they feel pressure
to stay productive during the pandemic. A majority (33 per cent) said the stress has led to a

lack of concentration during online learning, while 25 per cent said they feel easily irritated,
angry or upset.

In response, UNICEF has partnered with CIMSA (Center for Indonesian Medical

Students’ Activities) to launch a series of bi-weekly online sessions that provide mental
health and psychosocial support for young people. The sessions – which are held via Zoom

and streamed live on the CIMSA YouTube channel – invite young representatives and
experts for Q&A sessions and short talks moderated by CIMSA and each have a unique

theme covering different topics.

The aim of the initiative is to raise awareness of the importance of mental health
among young people and provide practical knowledge to sustain mental well-being during

the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.
“Through U-Report polls and online consultations held since the beginning of the

pandemic, we’ve come to see that young people’s mental health is at stake,”
said Yukari Tsunokake, UNICEF Indonesia Youth Engagement Officer. “Beginning

in April, we initiated the #COVID19Diaries campaign and later, a series of workshops to

empower young people to address mental health issues. As a next step, we wanted to work
with them as equal partners so that they can take the lead and ensure that issues are

advocated for young people by young people.”
The first session, which was held on Saturday 22 August under the theme “Coping

with stress during the COVID-19 pandemic,” featured stories and voices of young people

who described their struggles during the pandemic.
“Stress from family issues is making me lazy at home,” said one 15-year-old

adolescent boy. “But I have to keep my spirits up because my parents have been very
supportive.”

Two adolescent representatives from UNICEF’s anti-bullying

program shared questions sent in by U-Reporters with Dr Christopher Halimkesuma from
the Indonesian Young Health Professionals Society, such as: “Is experiencing stress during

the COVID-19 pandemic situation normal for teenagers? Where can we share our concerns
if our family and friends are not supportive? What are tips for dealing with stress from daily

tasks and burdens during the pandemic?”

Chapter XI – Talking about Covid-19 95