Childhood depression: A psychosocial perspective

Recent findings reveal a troubling reality about the mental well-being of Sri Lankan children. According to a study cited in The Island on 12, 2025, nearly 60 percent of school students in the country experience symptoms of depression, with 24 percent of senior students showing significant symptoms.

- BY DR. SIRI GALHENAGE MBBS, DPM, MRCPsych, FRANZCP. Psychiatrist [Retd] [e-mail]

Speaking at a World Mental Health Day event in Colombo, Professor Miyuru Chandradasa, President of the Sri Lanka College of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, identified academic pressure, parental conflict, social media exposure, and physical abuse as key contributors to this growing crisis.

Though I have not had direct access to the research data, the reported figures alone paint a deeply worrying picture. They demand not only public reflection but also urgent action. These are our future citizens, and their mental well-being today will shape the moral and social fabric of our nation tomorrow.

I read with great interest the article "Childhood Depression: A Critical Issue" (The Island, 27 October, 2025), by Geewananda Gunawardana PhD, my fellow alumnus from the University of Peradeniya, whose insights on the harmful impact of social media use among children are both timely and persuasive. My purpose here is to extend that conversation by exploring the psychosocial dimensions of this silent epidemic.

Formative years of childhood and adolescence constitute a critical period for physical, cognitive, social and emotional development. The emotional well-being of children requires a nurturing environment-a space that provides safety, support and love, enabling to feel secure, valued and encouraged to explore and learn.

The Family Milieu

A nurturing family environment forms the cornerstone of emotional well-being. Children thrive in homes that balance love with discipline, structure with freedom, and guidance with understanding. Unfortunately, modern life increasingly undermines this balance. Many parents, pressured by demanding work schedules or compelled to seek employment abroad, struggle to devote time and attention to their children.