The Center for Indigenous and Cultural Psychology (CICP) of the Faculty of Psychology, Universitas Gadjah Mada, participated in the u’GOOD Inaugural Conference titled “Thriving Together: Youth, Relational Wellbeing and the Future of the Global South,” held from October 7–9, 2025, in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. This inaugural conference served as the official launch of u’GOOD research projects across 9 Global South countries and marked the initial meeting of a Community of Practice (CoP) aimed at strengthening cross-national and interdisciplinary collaborations.

Prof. Drs. Subandi, M.A., Ph.D., Psikolog, a lecturer at the Faculty of Psychology, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), was invited to serve as both facilitator and speaker at the Psychospirituality and Recovery of Substance Use Disorders Workshop, organized by the Malaysian Association of Drug Addiction Counselors (MADAC) in collaboration with Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM). This event was held from 26–29 October 2025 at the Royal Park Hotel @UNITEN, Bangi, Malaysia.

Mental health promotion across generations has become increasingly crucial in today’s rapidly changing world, especially for young people navigating complex family, educational, and digital environments. Responding to this global need, the Center for Public Mental Health (CPMH), led by Dr. Diana Setiyawati, M.HSc., Psikolog., in collaboration with the Center for Life-Span Development (CLSD), headed by Aisha Sekar Laziardi Rachmanie, M.Psi., Psikolog., – both under the Faculty of Psychology, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), proudly held the International Course on Public Mental Health (ICPMH) 2025 with the theme “Bridging Generations: Thriving Youth, Supportive Families, Collaborative Schools”. This programme aimed to explore strategies for strengthening youth well-being through supportive family relationships, collaborative school engagement, and active community involvement.

Non-Suicidal Self-Injury (NSSI), or self-harming behavior without suicidal intent, is increasingly observed, particularly among adolescents and young adults. In Indonesia, several studies indicate that this phenomenon appears in everyday settings, influenced by emotional pressure, unsupportive social relationships, and the growing complexity of life challenges. A research team from the Faculty of Psychology, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) is developing a psychoeducational module on NSSI designed as a first step to understand this behavior, reduce stigma, and help individuals and their immediate circles respond more appropriately. This initiative is funded by the 2025 Research Grant of the Faculty of Psychology UGM.

Bullying remains a serious issue in the education sector, as it has a direct impact on students’ mental health. Data from the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection (KPPPA, 2022) shows that one in four Indonesian adolescents has experienced physical or psychological violence. This condition indicates that bullying is not merely an individual behavioral problem, but also a reflection of a school ecosystem that is not yet fully safe and supportive for students’ psychological development.

Understanding Indonesia’s mental health landscape requires a clear map of what has been studied, where, by whom, and with what focus. Responding to this need, a research team from the Center for Public Mental Health, Faculty of Psychology, Universitas Gadjah Mada, is undertaking a study to trace scientific publications on the prevalence, risk factors, and patterns of mental disorders across population groups and regions.

Student mental health is now a serious concern on many campuses, including Gadjah Mada University. Data and observations show an increase in mental health problems among students, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. Amidst various academic responsibilities and other activities such as organizations, part-time jobs, and friendship dynamics, there is a risk of problems such as health issues and psychological problems arising. However, students' willingness to access mental health services still faces many obstacles. 

A team from the Faculty of Psychology UGM, in collaboration with the Indonesian Family Advocacy Institute (LAKI), is delivering a collaborative parenting education program in the form of an interactive workshop to strengthen family resilience. The initiative emphasizes caregiving that aligns with children’s emotional needs and developmental stages, while equipping parents with practical, easy-to-apply parenting principles. This program is funded by the 2025 Community Service Grant (Hibah PkM) of the Faculty of Psychology UGM.

The Faculty of Psychology UGM, through the Center for Life-Span Development (CLSD), in collaboration with RSUP Dr. Sardjito, has initiated a community engagement program that focuses on strengthening parents’ capacity to support children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The program develops an educational toolkit titled “Parental Support Toolkit: Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorder in Children and Adolescents” designed to be accessible, practical, and evidence-based. By emphasizing parental attunement—the ability of parents to understand and respond sensitively and synchronously to their child’s signals—the program aims to help families stimulate children’s social skills in everyday contexts.

The Center of Life-Span Development (CLSD), Faculty of Psychology UGM, is developing environmental-themed storybooks for early childhood as a community empowerment initiative to strengthen literacy and foster eco-friendly habits from an early age. The program builds on insights from The Reading Buddies (TRB) initiative, which shows that children aged 4–6 are highly responsive to interactive stories, yet access to reading materials specifically addressing waste management and environmental themes remains limited.