Recent research has revealed that 60 percent of school students in Sri Lanka are affected by depression, with 24 percent of students in higher grades showing significant symptoms, experts said on Friday(10).
Speaking at a World Mental Health Day event in Colombo, Professor Miyuru Chandradasa, President of the Sri Lanka College of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, said the study identifies academic pressure, parental conflicts, social media use, and physical abuse as key contributors to mental stress among children.
“Among schoolchildren in Grades 10 to 13, at least 60 percent are experiencing depression and other mental health issues due to academic pressures and examinations,” Prof. Chandradasa said. He also warned parents against placing unnecessary burdens on children, stressing that such pressures can trigger serious mental illnesses.
The research further indicates that 19 percent of Sri Lanka’s overall population display symptoms of depression. Lack of parental attention and an unsettled home environment were also cited as major causes.
International studies show that environmental stressors such as trauma, abuse, neglect, bullying, and family disruptions contribute significantly to depression in young people.
Prof. Chandradasa also urged children to avoid visiting harmful websites and watching inappropriate online content, warning that these habits can negatively affect their mental health.