A recent survey by the Family Health Bureau of the Ministry of Health has found that 18% of schoolchildren in Sri Lanka struggle with mental health issues, including depression and anxiety.
The study, conducted in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, surveyed over 2,500 students aged 13 to 17 between September and October 2024. It examined 10 health-related topics through 78 questions, highlighting alarming trends such as isolation, sleep disturbances, and increased anxiety.
Key findings include:
🔹 22% of students felt isolated in the past year.
🔹 12% experienced sleep disturbances due to various concerns.
🔹 4.4% contemplated suicide, 9.6% planned it, and 9.1% attempted it—marking a rise since 2016.
🔹 63% suffer from sleep deprivation due to excessive internet use.
🔹 5.4% reported experiencing cyberbullying.
🔹 47.9% endured physical punishment in schools despite legal prohibitions.
Additionally, the survey revealed troubling rates of physical attacks (23.8%), sexual harassment (6.1%), dating violence (10.1%), and cyber sexual harassment (6.9%). Physical fights were reported by 34.5% of students.
Dr. Chiranthika Withana, National Program Manager for Adolescent Health, stressed the need to promote healthy lifestyles, increase physical activity, and strengthen school health programs to tackle these issues effectively.
