Psychiatric Morbidity and Mental Health Services in Sri Lanka

During the past several decades, Sri Lanka has seen a rapid development of psychiatry services throughout the country. From a single mental health hospital in the early twentieth century, psychiatry services have become decentralized, have extended to all districts of the country, and a multitude of psychiatry specialists, diplomates and other team members have been trained. In the mid-1990s Sri Lanka had one of the highest suicide rates in the world, and yet over the subsequent decades, the country achieved dramatic success in the reduction of suicide rates by banning toxic pesticides. And yet, much still remains to be done. We are facing new challenges, particularly the economic and socio-political upheavals of the past few years, which may be associated with increased rates of psychiatric morbidity such as depression, alcohol misuse on one hand, plus reduced availability of healthcare professionals and services in psychiatry. This chapter describes the development of psychiatry services during the past decades in Sri Lanka, examines the challenges that face us now, and explores strategies regarding the way forward to optimize mental health services in Sri Lanka in forthcoming years.