According to India’s total population of more than 1.4 billion, the adolescent population (aged 10-19 years) accounts for about 253 million, making it a significant number out of the total. Economists and demographers have coined this demographic segment as the ‘demographic dividend’. The young demographic holds the country’s future development, economy and prosperity. It is thus vitally important to ensure that our future is in the hands of mentally and physically fit young minds, ready to build a future.
Challenges of Body Development and Academic Pressure
Adolescence marks a big transition phase from being a child to an adult. They encounter a number of changes in body development, pressure to get good grades, self-image and identity formation. With the growing use of technology and social media, adolescents are most vulnerable to facing issues in dealing with their mental health. Societal expectations, labeling certain behaviors and beauty standards as ‘ideal,’ can pose a threatening challenge to young minds.
They are most vulnerable to mental health problems such as anxiety disorders and depression. Reports state that among ages 13-17 years, severe mental illness prevails at 7.3%.
Policy and implementation
To acknowledge these issues, state and national governments have introduced numerous policies and programmes to combat these concerns. Policies around mental health in India initiated by the government have existed since 2014, although the strategies and implementation are extremely slow. Authorities crafted numerous policies targeting learning disabilities, substance abuse, and other factors influencing mental health. Active health measures still do not give due consideration to policies regarding the mental health of adolescents, often relegating them to a secondary status.
Lack of awareness of policies
A conducted survey revealed that there was minimal awareness of these policies among school students, parents, and teachers in the urban slums of Mumbai. Furthermore, there was little awareness about the digital interventions, specifically the ‘Saathiya Salah’ app, which incorporates e-counseling. The students, in discussions, revealed a negative perception of school counselors, labeling them as “tension teachers.” This fear of privacy invasion discouraged students from actively sharing their concerns.
Impact on Youth Productivity
Researchers have also identified some risk factors to develop mental health disorders such as poverty, childhood adversity, and violence. The issues can lead to disturbances in studies, unemployment and a reduction in the productivity of youth. Factors such as wealth, caste, location, and gender determine access to mental health care. Gender disparities are also a common concern, where girls face gender-based violence and boys hold pressure to conform to masculine norms. Children who come from broken homes and have faced dysfunctional family relationships and discrimination are likely to develop anger issues and authority delegation difficulties. It is essential to address these problems to improve mental health in adolescents in India.
A broader issue exists in India, with underreporting of mental health due to a lack of awareness, stigma around seeking help, cultural beliefs promoting self-reliance, and inadequate attention and implementation of policies surrounding mental health.
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