Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya participated in an informal dialogue with young people on mental health and wellbeing on 11 October at De Saram House, Colombo, marking an initiative held in connection with World Mental Health Day.
The discussion, organised by UNICEF Sri Lanka and MHPSS.net in collaboration with the Youth Advisory Network (YAN), brought together young people aged 18 to 24 to share their experiences, perspectives and concerns regarding mental health challenges faced by youth in Sri Lanka.
During the interactive session, the Prime Minister engaged in an open conversation with the participants, listening to their views on the pressures affecting young people’s mental wellbeing, barriers to seeking support, and the importance of creating safe and supportive environments for discussing mental health.
The participants also introduced the Prime Minister to On My Mind, a podcast series adapted into Sinhala and Tamil for Sri Lankan youth with the active involvement of the Youth Advisory Network. The initiative aims to encourage open conversations about mental health and provide young people with accessible resources to better understand and address mental health challenges.
The discussion also explored the role of young people in promoting mental health awareness and the importance of strengthening support systems within schools, families and communities.
UNICEF Representative in Sri Lanka Emma Brigham, representatives of MHPSS.net and members of the Youth Advisory Network participated in the discussion.
Prime Minister’s Media Division