Thoughts on World Mental Health Day

World Mental Health Day falls today. It’s a day on which to focus on the growing mental health crisis in the country driven by economic factors, inequality,  high rates of stress and substance abuse.

Around 10% of Sri Lanka’s population is affected by various forms of mental illness, according to the Health Ministry. Of these approximately 2% of the population suffers from severe mental health conditions. 

While it is estimated that nearly 30% of Sri Lankan adults face mental health issues, with higher rates observed among older adults aged 60, more concerning is the plight of children/adolescents facing many mental health challenges.

According to Sri Lanka College of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry President Prof. Miyuru Chandradasa, nearly 60% of school students in Sri Lanka are experiencing stress symptoms at different levels according to recent research findings with around 24%  of students in higher grades reporting symptoms of depression.

He disclosed that psychiatric assessment found that the intense pressure of education, problems with parents at home, the use of social media, and physical abuse of children are the main causes of this mental stress.

Mental health disorders have also significantly contributed to the rising number of suicides in the country. Sri Lanka has a suicide rate of around 5/100,000, which is well above the global average, a clear indication of the seriousness of mental health issues.  There is a significantly higher suicide rates among men, with 27 deaths per 100,000 males compared to five per 100,000 females, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). The 2022 WHO study shows suicide rates rise sharply with age, peaking among men over 55 at 65 per 100,000. Among women, the highest rate is seen in the 17–25 age group at 10 per 100,000.

The increase in the ageing population is also adding to the mental  health crisis with many seniors left alone with loneliness contributing to the decline in their mental health well-being.

For a country coming out of decades of conflict, natural disasters such as the 2004 tsunami, pandemic lockdowns, 2022 economic crises, more recently cyclone Ditwah etc. have impacted  the mental health of the people. This has been exacerbated by the lack of a support system within families, institutions , workplaces etc to support mental health care.

Mental health remains stigmatised in society and hence there is a tendency to speak of it in hush voices. This means persons suffering from mental health are often neglected and ignored which adds to the problem.

The overall objective of World Mental Health Day designated by the WHO is to raise awareness of mental health issues around the world and to mobilise efforts in support of mental health.

The day provides an opportunity for all stakeholders working on mental health issues to talk about their work, and what more needs to be done to make mental health care a reality for people worldwide.

Ahead of World Mental Health Day, the WHO has released a new guide to support countries in shifting away from institutionalised mental health care models focused on long-term stays in psychiatric hospitals towards person-centred care in the community that respect people’s rights and choices.

The new guide sets out practical actions for psychiatric hospital leaders to implement DI. It focuses on reducing psychiatric hospital admissions and long stays, changing institutional practices to better protect people’s rights, and helping people leave hospital and return to community life with the support they need.

Sri Lanka needs  to focus more on the mental wellbeing of its citizens and speak more openly on the issues. Sharing experiences and reducing the stigma attached to mental health will go  some way in reducing this burden for those living with such issues as well as provide relief to family members, and caregivers.