Sri Lanka's Youth Suicide Crisis: A Collective Failure to Act

Strategic Insights -

Sri Lanka's youth have been hit with an alarming trend of suicidal incidents in recent months, with some notable cases involving university students, a 13-year-old boy, and a female student who attempted to take her own life due to a ragging incident. The Global School-Based Student Health Survey (GSHS) 2024 has revealed critical trends and concerns in the mental health and psychosocial well-being of adolescents, including a sharp increase in feelings of loneliness, inability to sleep due to worry, and depressive symptoms. The survey highlights the urgent need for a comprehensive, multi-dimensional approach to address the challenges Sri Lankan adolescents face.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Global School-Based Student Health Survey (GSHS) 2024 found a significant increase in feelings of loneliness (22.4% of students reported loneliness in the past 12 months) and inability to sleep due to worry (11.9% of students) compared to 2016.
  • The survey revealed a notable rise in depressive symptoms among the 16-17 age group, with 26.3% of students reporting symptoms.
  • Only 25% of students reported that they could talk to someone about their problems and worries most of the time or always, while 50.7% felt they were never or rarely able to do so.
  • The ability to talk to adults at school, such as teachers or counsellors, was particularly low, with just 7.9% reporting comfort in doing so.
  • The GSHS survey highlighted the need to strengthen adolescent-focused programs and interventions within the broader Universal Health Coverage (UHC) framework and institutionalize health education as an integral part of the curriculum.
  • Dr. Duleeka Knipe, Associate Professor of Global Mental Health, emphasized the importance of communication strategies to support healthy expression of distress and having someone who understands and listens to an individual.
  • The expert recommended improving communication skills, increasing access to social capital, and formal help, as well as recognizing that academic achievement is not the only output that should be important for schools and young people.

Statistics:

  • 22.4% of students reported feelings of loneliness in the past 12 months in 2024, up from 9% in 2016.
  • 11.9% of students reported being unable to sleep due to worry in 2024, compared to 4.6% in 2016.
  • 26.3% of students in the 16-17 age group reported depressive symptoms in 2024.
  • 50.7% of students felt they were never or rarely able to talk to someone about their problems and worries.
  • 7.9% of students reported comfort in talking to adults at school, such as teachers or counsellors.
  • 80.4% of students stated they rarely or never could talk to adults at school.

Sources:

  • The Global School-Based Student Health Survey (GSHS) 2024.
  • Dr. Duleeka Knipe, Associate Professor of Global Mental Health.
  • International Association of Suicide Prevention (IASP).
  • World Health Organisation (WHO).