The impact of social media in Sri Lanka: issues and challenges in mental health

Rajiv Weerasundera

doi:10.4038/sljpsyc.v5i1.7049

Rajiv Weerasundera

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.4038/sljpsyc.v5i1.7049

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Abstract

The Sri Lanka Journal of Psychiatry (SLJP) is a peer-reviewed, open access journal published bi annually by the Sri Lanka College of Psychiatrists.The Journal publishes original papers, brief reports including case reports and commentaries relevant to psychiatry and allied sciences. The Sri Lanka Journal of Psychiatry is committed to maintaining and conforming to the editorial and ethical standards recommended by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors.Cover “Watching and waiting to catch the first rays of dawn, similar to gathering knowledge of psychiatry during my early years of training”. Dr Charani Anuradha Abayaweera, Post-MD Psychiatry trainee

Highlights

Several suicides were reported in Sri Lanka recently where there were sufficient reasons to believe that the deaths were the direct result of the victims’ engagement with social media (1)
Suicides-and other mental health problems-precipitated or propagated by social media is a global issue and are by no means confined to Sri Lanka
Despite its obvious advantages in disseminating information and enhancing communication, that social media can have a negative impact on mental health had been observed, as far back as nearly fifteen years ago when such communications were in their infancy: a survey by Kraut et al concluded that greater use of the internet was associated with declines in participants’ communication with family members in the household, declines in the size of their social circle and increases in depression (4)

Summary

Introduction

Several suicides were reported in Sri Lanka recently where there were sufficient reasons to believe that the deaths were the direct result of the victims’ engagement with social media (1). Suicides-and other mental health problems-precipitated or propagated by social media is a global issue and are by no means confined to Sri Lanka. Social media is ubiquitous and its growth in Sri Lanka has been exponential: the country, with a population of 21 million, has over 2.3 million users of social media, over 60% of them male.

Results

Conclusion