Sri Lanka, Oct. 13 -- A new study has revealed that a large number of Sri Lankan adolescents are facing serious mental health challenges, with one in four showing clinically significant symptoms of depression and more than half reporting high levels of psychological distress.

The research, conducted among over 1,000 upper school students in the Gampaha district, examined adolescents from urban, semi-urban, and rural settings.

According to the study, 24 per cent of students displayed symptoms of depression, while 60 per cent reported significant psychological distress.

Researchers identified several key risk factors contributing to higher stress levels. These included being female, exposure to violence, low levels of physical activity, ...