About 30% of adults in SL suffer from mental health issues

2026-01-26 - 15:02

Nearly 30% of Sri Lanka’s adult population is affected by mental health problems, Consultant Psychiatrist Dr. Madhushani Dias said yesterday (Jan. 25). Speaking at a programme held in Colombo, Dr. Dias said a significant proportion of those suffering from mental health issues are elderly persons aged 60 – 65 and above. She noted that although Sri Lanka’s elderly population is increasing rapidly, social awareness regarding mental health problems faced by older adults remains low, leading to a range of challenges. Dr. Dias said many psychological symptoms associated with ageing are often dismissed as normal due to myths and misconceptions, resulting in conditions such as forgetfulness and depression being frequently ignored by elderly people and those around them. She warned that the growing prevalence of mental health issues among senior citizens is having a serious impact on their quality of life and is also contributing to an increase in physical health complications.