IEC Materials for Adolescent Mental Health

Learn accurate information on mental health and share your knowledge with friends and family.

Flora Dita Cahyani with her mother
UNICEF/UNI306613/Fauzan Ijazah

The COVID-19 pandemic is causing many changes in our lives, so it is normal not to feel okay. What is important is to feel your feelings, understand the symptoms of mental illness, and know where to seek help. It is crucial that you also know some practical tips to maintain your mental health.  

In support of UNICEF, 16 adolescent mental health advocates from around Indonesia co-developed a series of information, education and communication (IEC) materials to raise awareness and disseminate key information on adolescent mental health.  

See what IEC materials have been developed and join us to spread accurate knowledge on mental health by sharing this page with your friends and family. 

  1. What is mental health?
  2. Symptoms of mental ilness
  3. Tips to maintain mental well-being
  4. Referral information
  5. Advocacy messages

1. What is mental health?

IEC - Material 1a
IEC - Material 1b
IEC - Material 1c
IEC - Material 1d

By Neerzara Syarifah Alfarizi (14) 

2. Symptoms of mental illness

Embedded video follows

By Alkayla Hasna Mutia, Flora Dita, Giant Resky William Mangori, Aswita Maharani, and Arsandi 

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By Neerzara Syarifah Alfarizi (14) 

3. Tips to maintain mental well-being

IEC - Material 4

By Yasmin (16) and Melanesia Kararbo (15)   

IEC - Material 5

By Haerani Destiningrum (17) 

IEC - Material 6

By Melanesia Kararbo (15) 

4. Advocacy messages

IEC - Material 8

By Alkayla Hasna Mutia, Flora Dita, Giant Resky William Mangori, Aswita Maharani, and Arsandi 

IEC - Material 8

By Alkayla Hasna Mutia (16) 

IEC - Material 9

By Giant Resky Wiliam Mangori (14) 

Find out more

Do you want to learn more about maintaining and promoting mental well-being?  

Click the links below: 

Ruang PEKA

Care for your mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic

Learn more

It's okay to not feel okay

Young people advocate for mental health and psychosocial support on World Mental Health Day and beyond

Read now

COVID-19 Diaries

Share your COVID-19 stories

Learn more

How to take care of yourself during stressful times

Learn to navigate through tough times at home while you spend more time with family, and become problem solvers to overcome the challenges, big and small,

Go to site

About the Adolescent Mental Health IEC Material Co-creation Project

UNICEF implemented the adolescent-led information, education and communication (IEC) material co-creation project to address adolescent mental health, which has emerged as a critical issue during the pandemic. Through various surveys and engagement activities, gender and disability inclusive information dissemination supported by meaningful adolescent engagement was identified as key to the pandemic response. Thus, a series of online workshops was conducted over a two-month period beginning in June 2020 to empower 16 adolescents (10 girls and 6 boys) from around Indonesia to develop inclusive IEC materials on adolescent mental health. 

Through guidance on essential information and coaching, the participating adolescents led the discussion and development of IEC materials in small groups to address three main areas that were identified by a previous U-Report poll answered by 254 adolescents (75% female): 

  1. Knowledge on identifying the symptoms of mental health conditions 

  1. Practical tips to maintain mental health 

  1. Information on seeking help from available services when needed 

As a result, more than 10 IEC materials were developed in various formats, including comic strips, illustrations, drawings and videos. These IEC materials are planned to be disseminated widely through different channels including relevant ministries such as the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection (KPPPA) and the Ministry of Health (MoH) with their official endorsement to some selected works.