Youth health, as the name suggests, is the health of the youth. This involves all the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of the youth. However, many of the youths suffer from a number of psychological problems such as depression, anxiety, and stress. In order to improve the health of the youths, the government should focus on the prevention of these psychological problems. To that end, an intersectoral approach is required.
Treatment gap for mental health problems in India
In India, a large gap exists in the provision of mental health services. A recent study indicates that nearly 150 million Indians are in need of such care. However, few studies have looked into the factors that may be responsible for this under-resourced gap.
The most obvious barrier to help-seeking is the stigma attached to mental illness. This is exacerbated by a lack of awareness about treatment options. Other barriers include the inability to access mental healthcare and the fear of discrimination.
The World Health Organization estimates that poor mental health costs the global economy $1 trillion a year in lost productivity. Additionally, the aging of the Indian population has made psychiatric disorders a growing concern in the country.
A recent study in India revealed that youth suffer from a number of common afflictions, such as depression, anxiety, and eating disorders. Younger adults are also more likely to engage in self-harm and suicidal behavior.
Inclusion criteria for youth mental health initiatives in India
The Indian policy landscape for youth mental health is complex. While a number of national programs are in place, there are also state-specific initiatives. This review focuses on a selection of major national policies and key initiatives for youth mental health in India.
The National Mental Health Act (2017) endorses a rights-based approach and emphasizes that people with mental health problems have the right to be treated. It also calls for the integration of mental health across the youth-oriented systems of health care. However, the scope of the policy is limited by a broad range of systemic barriers. These include socio-cultural and gender-related factors.
Public stigma has been identified as a key factor in the underreported prevalence of mental disorders in India. A cross-sectional survey of public stigma among 15-60 year-old Indians showed that the symptoms of mental illness were often under-recognized.
As a result, a significant treatment gap exists. According to the national mental health survey, 7.3 percent of adolescents and 10.6 percent of young adults suffer from mental disorders. Although a large proportion of the youth population reports symptoms, fewer than half access treatment.
Intersectoral approach to addressing youth mental health needs across the different target age groups
There is a clear need for an intersectoral approach to youth mental health needs across the different target age groups. While there are several opportunities to leverage existing programmatic frameworks, there are also numerous challenges. These include poor mental health awareness, social stigma, and poor attitudes. However, it is possible to overcome these obstacles through meaningful local action.
In India, 252 million young people aged 15 to 24 years represent approximately 5% of the country’s population. The National Mental Health Survey reveals that about 10.6 percent of young adults have experienced mental health problems. This number is twofold higher in urban areas.
A key gap in the youth mental health system is the lack of youth-specific services. To address these needs, the Department of Mental Health and Family Welfare (DMHP) should coordinate youth-focused mental health services within schools, communities, and primary healthcare facilities. It should also improve the skills of the health workforce.
Measures of mental health literacy used in an ongoing Swedish RCT of YAM
Mental health literacy is a very important topic in Sweden. Many levels of the society are making efforts to improve public awareness about depression. Currently, only about half of people with mental disorders receive treatment from the mental health system. However, many people have unmet needs. In this context, the study investigates how different groups of people perceive mental health and whether this affects their help-seeking intentions.
Mental health is a very common problem in the general population. It is estimated that about 40 percent of all adults will experience some form of depression or anxiety during their lives.
Mental health literacy is essential to understanding the condition and treatment. This study investigated the relationship between knowledge of depression and mental health literacy. Specifically, it examined the relationship between personal history of mental health care, recognition of depression, and attitudes towards medical and psychological interventions.
A postal screening questionnaire was distributed to all Swedish residents aged 20 to 64 living in the former County of Skaraborg. The survey was administered from March 2000 through March 2003. People were divided into four groups based on their subjective wellbeing: mentally healthy, cases with mental health care contact, non-clinical, and cases without mental health care contact.