August 07, Colombo (LNW): The mental wellbeing of school-aged children in Sri Lanka is under growing scrutiny, following the release of data indicating a notable rise in emotional distress among adolescents.
Officials from the Ministry of Health revealed that a substantial portion of the country’s youth are grappling with psychological strain, much of it linked to shifting social pressures and changing family dynamics.
Speaking at a media event organised by the Health Promotion Bureau, Acting Director of the Mental Health Directorate, Dr Lakmini Magodarathna, drew attention to recent findings from a national school health survey conducted in 2024. The results, she said, were sobering and suggested deeper undercurrents of emotional isolation among young people.
The survey, which assessed the mental and emotional health of schoolchildren aged 13 to 17, revealed that over a fifth of students reported persistent feelings of loneliness. Nearly 12 per cent admitted to experiencing sleep disturbances linked to emotional distress, while around 18 per cent exhibited symptoms consistent with depression.
A further 7.5 per cent said they had no close friends, and strikingly, one in four students disclosed having no one they could confide in about their personal problems.
“These figures are difficult to digest,” Dr Magodarathna remarked. “When you see that 75 per cent of our children feel they have no trustworthy adult or peer to open up to, it becomes clear that we are not simply looking at isolated emotional issues, but a wider cultural and societal breakdown in communication and connection.”
She stressed that such emotional distance was likely a reflection of broader social challenges—from economic uncertainty and academic pressures to shifting family structures and the increasing dominance of digital interaction over face-to-face relationships. Adults, she added, may be experiencing similar stresses, highlighting the need for a more empathetic, community-based response.
Also present at the media briefing was Consultant Psychiatrist Dr Sajeeva Amarasinghe of the National Institute of Mental Health, who provided further insight into the nation’s broader mental health landscape. He noted that, while the overall suicide rate in Sri Lanka has declined significantly since the 1990s, the current numbers still present a pressing concern.
“In 1996, Sri Lanka recorded one of the highest suicide rates globally—around 47 per 100,000 people,” Dr Amarasinghe stated. “Thanks to a series of targeted interventions and policy decisions, that figure has fallen to approximately 15 per 100,000. Today, we record around 3,500 suicides per year, which breaks down to an average of eight per day.”
He observed that although the national rate has stabilised in recent years, the nature of reported suicides has shifted, with recent cases often carrying a deeper emotional resonance. “While suicide cases don’t always make it into the public spotlight, they are still happening—and what we’re seeing now are not just statistics, but stories marked by personal tragedy and unresolved anguish.”
Dr Amarasinghe praised the more responsible media environment, noting that sensationalist reporting on suicide has decreased—a change that, he said, contributes positively to prevention efforts.
Both health professionals underscored the urgent need for stronger community support systems, better mental health education in schools, and more open conversations between young people and the adults around them.
