MBG and the Illusion of Child Well-being: A Developmental Psychology and Psychobiology of Stress Analysis of Suicide Cases Among Elementary School-Aged Children

Abstract

The suicide tragedy of a fourth-grade elementary school student in East Nusa Tenggara, triggered by the inability to provide Rp10,000 for school books, reveals fundamental issues in the understanding of child welfare in Indonesia. This incident occurred amidst the implementation of the Nutritious Meal Program (MBG), which focuses on meeting children's biological needs. This study aims to analyze the case using developmental psychology and stress psychobiology approaches to critique the limitations of the reductionist child welfare policy paradigm. The method used is a descriptive qualitative approach with a conceptual case study design and an interdisciplinary literature review. The results of the analysis indicate that chronic economic stress significantly impacts children's emotional regulation, cognitive function, and neurobiological development, particularly through activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. These findings confirm that nutritional fulfillment without psychosocial interventions and family economic strengthening has the potential to create an illusion of well-being. This study recommends a shift in child welfare policy toward an integrated biopsychosocial approach that integrates nutrition, mental health, and family well-being.