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Adolescent and Youth Mental Health in India: Status and Needs

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Health and Wellbeing of India's Young People

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Abstract

Adolescence and youth are important developmental stages marking the transition from childhood to adulthood. The prevalence of psychological disorders among adolescents and young individuals is on the rise. However, the data on psychological disorders among adolescents and youth is not extensively available and consolidated. The chapter therefore aims to provide comprehensive information about mental health needs of adolescents and youth in India as identified by existing research, as well as by experts in the field. The chapter will begin with an understanding of adolescence and youth as significant developmental stages, followed by an overview of the status of mental health of adolescents and youth in India through a meta-analytical desk review of epidemiological studies over the last 15 years, highlighting the prevalence of psychological disorders and associated risk and protective factors. This will be corroborated with inputs received from mental health professionals and experts consulted as part of the study. Cross-cutting issues like stigma, discrimination and vulnerable populations will be discussed alongside. The chapter concludes with developing a proposal for future research and recommendations to enhance adolescent and youth mental health in India.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank all the officials from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India; representatives from the State Government of Maharashtra; representatives from the RKSK programme; policy-makers and experts who participated in the consultative meet; experts from the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru; practicing mental health professionals; and faculty at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, for their invaluable inputs and recommendations.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Human Ecology, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, India

    Chetna Duggal

  2. Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, India

    Lamia Bagasrawala

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  1. Chetna Duggal
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Correspondence to Chetna Duggal .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Director, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

    Shalini Bharat

  2. Centre of Excellence on Adolescents and Youth, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

    Geeta Sethi

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Duggal, C., Bagasrawala, L. (2019). Adolescent and Youth Mental Health in India: Status and Needs. In: Bharat, S., Sethi, G. (eds) Health and Wellbeing of India's Young People. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-6593-5_3

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