22% of School Students Feel Lonely: Alarming Findings from Health Ministry Survey

09-Aug-2025

.

The Ministry of Health revealed that due to various social factors, school students are increasingly experiencing psychological distress. 

According to Dr. Lakmini Mahodaratne, Acting Director of the Mental Health Division, a nationwide school health survey conducted in 2024 showed that 22.4% of students reported feeling lonely.

Among students aged 13–17, 11.9% said they had trouble sleeping due to sadness, while about 18% displayed symptoms of depression. 

Furthermore, 7.5% said they had no close friends, and 25% mentioned they had no one to talk to about their inner problems—suggesting that 75% of children lack trusted confidants.

Dr. Mahodaratne emphasized that this raises serious concerns about the emotional well-being of youth and potentially older individuals. 

The country now sees an average of 8 suicides per day. In 1996, Sri Lanka had the world’s second-highest suicide rate at 47 per 100,000, which has now dropped to 15 per 100,000 due to policy interventions.

Despite the slight decline, recent suicides tend to be impulsive. The media no longer sensationalizes such events, a positive development according to the Ministry. Still, the underlying mental health crisis demands national attention.