International Youth Day:
Denied of parental understanding of their needs, bullying by peers, and the lack of knowledge on Reproductive health are among the leading causes for what health officials now see as an ‘ alarming trend in the incidence of deliberate self harm and suicide among Lankan youth.’
“Youth comprise 3.3 million (16.4%) of the 21 million population in Sri Lanka. This means one in every six persons, in the 15-24 age group. All of them have special needs, as youth is the second formative stage of life after childhood. It is a period of growth, opportunities and challenges, both physically and mentally, when young people act impulsively and emotionally, and like exploring and experimenting with new things, especially, substance use/ abuse and sexuality, away from the watchful eyes of parents and guardians.” Addressing a media seminar on International Youth Day at the Health Education Bureau, Tuesday, August 15, Director Adolescent Health Unit of the Mental Health Services Institute , Dr Chitramalee De Silva made this observation while stressing the important role the media could play in preventing both, suicides and suicidal tendencies among Lankan youth.
Citing statistics, she said, in 2012 suicidal rates among those between 15-29 was 23.7% with boys having a three times higher risk than girls ( 36.8 and 10.7 respectively).
Her sentiments were echoed by other speakers including, Director General Health Services, Dr Jayasundara Bandara , Dr Priyani Senadeera , Director Maternal & Child Health, Family Health Bureau, CCP-Adolescent Health Unit, FHB, Dr Chiranthika Vithana.
Using facts based on a general report compiled by the UNFPA, and the Health Ministry on suicides, they said, the main issues which drove youth to taking their own lives were : Unhealthy lifestyles ( about half of males and ¾ females led sedentary lifestyles) ingesting carbonated drinks and eating unhealthy precooked foods.
Other issues related to smoking and alcohol abuse, peer pressure and stress, and lack of parental understanding of their worries. Lack of knowledge on basic facts of Reproductive health was another important contributory factor.
“With proper knowledge and enforcement of existing guidelines these things can be prevented. Raising awareness using the media among adolescents on the dangers of smoking, alcohol and other substance abuse, integrated with life skills education is of primary importance”, they reiterated.
As a step towards raising awareness and educating youth, the Health Ministry launched its new website ‘Yowun Piyasa’ Adolescent Friendly website “ to coincide with the media briefing and International Youth Day, in all three languages, Sinhala, Tamil and English.
Those wishing to visit this website can click on : https://www.yowunpiyasa.lk.