Executive Summary : | The project aims to raise awareness on mental health issues among teachers, school administrators, and parents, assessing the current mental health status of children and identifying vulnerable ones at risk. It also seeks to develop a local specific, culturally acceptable mental health-based life skill education module and create a safe-net for children and their immediate environment around school. Mental health is often taboo, leading to high rates of social deviance, suicides, and juvenile crimes. The World Health Organization (WHO) states that mental health is essential for overall health and wellbeing, and the 3rd Sustainable Development Goal SDG-3 explicitly includes mental health. Mental health accounts for a large proportion of the disease burden in young people worldwide, with most disorders beginning during youth 12-24 years of age. Poor mental health is strongly related to other health and development concerns in young people, such as lower educational achievements, substance abuse, violence, and poor reproductive and sexual health. Key challenges to addressing mental health needs include the shortage of mental-health professionals, low capacity and motivation of non-specialist health workers, and stigma associated with mental disorders.
The project proposes a population-based, youth-focused model, integrating mental health with other youth health and welfare expertise. Addressing young people's mental health needs is crucial for their potential fulfillment and contribution to their communities. The target area is 25 government schools in Pondicherry district, Puducherry, targeting students aged 10-17 years from low-to-medium income families. Parents and government school teachers are also important stakeholders, as they are not aware of mental health issues and may struggle to guide their children.
The initiative aims to transform deviant youth into responsible citizens, benefiting the entire ecosystem. Schools will be selected in consultation with the Government of Puducherry, and a KAP Study will be conducted to measure knowledge, attitude, and practice among the target population. A tool called "I Know My Student" will be used to assess children's mental health status, with inclusive groups of children with mental health issues being clubbed with normal children. The initiative is designed to help students become models of transformation and contribute to the community. |