Nearly 39% of Sri Lanka’s youth aged between 10 and 24 suffer from mental stress, the head of the country’s leading mental health institution said on Monday (26).
Dr. Dhammika Alahapperuma, director of the National Institute of Mental Health, disclosed the figures at a special media briefing held at the institute in Mulleriyawa to mark its centenary.
Mental illness is a growing public health concern in Sri Lanka and affects people across all age groups, Alahapperuma noted. About 13% of the country’s population experiences mental health problems, with nearly 3% suffering from severe conditions that interfere with daily activities.
He pointed out that nearly one in five Sri Lankans, or about 19%, live with depression, describing suicide as a major issue both nationally and globally.
Around 700,000 suicides are reported worldwide each year, and police data from 2022 show that approximately 100,000 Sri Lankans died by suicide during that year. Mental health challenges are particularly acute among adolescents, according to him.
Among young people, about 20% experience distress linked to loneliness, 18% show persistent symptoms of depression and around 15% have seriously considered suicide. Nearly 10% have attempted suicide, with girls especially affected.
Dr Alahapperuma stressed that promoting mental well-being, identifying conditions early and ensuring easier access to treatment are essential to safeguarding the mental health of the population.
Sri Lanka has made notable progress in strengthening mental health services by upgrading specialized hospitals, expanding community-based care and integrating mental health services into primary health care, he added. (Newswire)
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