The Gampaha District Medical Officer has issued a stark warning about the deteriorating mental health of children, revealing that 19 child suicides were reported in the district last year—a figure that has raised alarm among health professionals.

Speaking at the recent Gampaha District Coordination Committee meeting, attended by Deputy Ministers Mahinda Jayasinghe and Anil Fernando, the Medical Officer said that although the public discourse around children’s mental health has increased, the situation on the ground is worsening due to overwhelming academic pressure and the growing culture of excessive tuition.

“One issue I must raise is the mental toll on children. Last year alone, we recorded 19 suicides involving children. That number should shock us all,” she stated.

She highlighted the disturbing trend of children attending tuition classes from 6 p.m. until 6 a.m. the following day, leaving them sleep-deprived and mentally exhausted.

“These are children who are expected to focus on formal education during the day and then continue with back-to-back tuition classes through the night. This is not sustainable for their minds or bodies,” she warned.

The Medical Officer urged education authorities to pay immediate attention to the issue and called for a child-centred approach in structuring academic activities.

“I’m not against tuition, but there must be limits. Education should be designed in a way that supports—not endangers—the psychological and physical wellbeing of children,” she said.

She also recommended that a specialised mental health team be dispatched to the Gampaha District to assess the current state of children’s mental health and implement interventions before the crisis deepens.

(It you need mental health assistance dial 1926: the hotline of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), Angoda)