Jakarta. The Central Java Police have ruled out criminal wrongdoing in the death of a 13-year-old elementary school student found dead in her home in Demak Regency, reviving national concern over child welfare and mental health support.

The girl, identified by the initials SA, was discovered by her mother on Thursday evening in Batursari village. She was rushed to a nearby hospital but was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.

Police said preliminary medical examinations found no signs of physical abuse. “There were no indications of violence,” Demak Police Criminal Investigation Unit chief Anggah Mardwi said on Saturday. “Medical findings suggest the cause of death was respiratory distress due to lack of oxygen.”

Investigators said the child had been alone at home at the time of the incident, while her mother was outside with another child. CCTV footage reviewed by police shows the mother returning home at 6:01 p.m. local time and emerging two minutes later in a state of panic to seek help.

Authorities also rejected circulating messages on social media alleging the girl had been killed by her mother, calling the claims false and misleading. With no evidence of a criminal act, police have closed the investigation. The girl’s body was returned to relatives in Karangawen for burial.

While police stressed that the case does not involve a crime, the death has stirred broader unease, coming amid other recent incidents involving children that have drawn attention to gaps in social protection and mental health services.

Late last month, the death of a 10-year-old boy in Ngada Regency — one of Indonesia’s poorest provinces — prompted national scrutiny of the risks facing children in remote and economically disadvantaged areas. The boy, identified only by his initials YB, was found dead on Jan. 29 after living between his mother’s home and a small hut shared with his elderly grandmother.

Local accounts described a fragile household marked by long-term poverty and the absence of the boy’s father. His mother, a 47-year-old agricultural laborer, struggled to support five children on irregular income, affecting both caregiving and schooling. Only two of the siblings were reportedly able to attend school consistently.

Earlier, in 2023, a similar tragedy occurred in Kebumen, where an elementary school student died after entering a river. Local media reported the child had been distressed over financial difficulties, including running out of pocket money, and was living with a grandmother.

If you or someone close to you is experiencing psychological distress, feelings of hopelessness, or thoughts of self-harm, seek professional help immediately. In Indonesia, mental health services are available through hospitals and community health centers (puskesmas). You can also contact the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection’s SAPA129 hotline by dialing 129 or via WhatsApp at 08111-129-129.

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