Individual and social-environmental level protective factors for institutionalized adolescents’ mental health - a study among adolescents in childrens’ homes under the Integrated Child Protection Scheme, Kerala
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Date
2016-10
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SCTIMST
Abstract
Background:
Child and adolescent mental health is a less explored area in low and middle income
countries. Being the country with largest child population, it is the need of the hour to
understand the factors promoting and protecting child and adolescent mental health. The
study aims to assess these protective factors along with extracurricular activities, positive
reinforcement and future perspectives in a vulnerable group-adolescents living in
childrens’ homes under a government run scheme, Integrated Child Protection Scheme
(ICPS) in Kerala.
Methodology:
The study used a mixed-method approach. Entire adolescents (12-18 years) living in all
the well established eight childrens’ homes under the scheme were considered for the
study. There were 222 children who gave assent for the cross-sectional survey. They
were living in childrens’ homes for at least a month and could understand either
Malayalam or English. Seven in-depth interviews were done through purposive sampling
of the surveyed children to understand the future perspectives of children who might
imminently leave the institution.
Results:
There were gaps in the provision of protective factors when viewed through child rights
perspective. To mention a few, literacy (17.3% of the 216 children without special needs
could not read and write), provision for extracurricular activities (12.8% of the total
subjects do not get involved in their talents and hobbies) and encouragement or feedback
(no one to value their talents and hobbies for 15.3% of the children and 80.6% of the
study subjects feels that they receive deserving appreciations). Life skills, an individual
level factor also seems to be varying with gender, age and other protective factors.
Increasing age, self-grading of their studies as good, success in recent exams and leisure
time activities were finally found to be the conclusive predictors of life skills. Future
perspectives of adolescents seem to be unrealistic without proper guidance or mentoring.
Stigma and potential role of gender norms were emerging due to the present context.
Conclusion:
Poor quality of education, gaps in other protective factors and lack of guidance directs us
to two things; need to promote child and adolescent mental health with special emphasis
on health promoting schools and integration of the scheme (ICPS) with educational
system. Conclusive predictors help in foreseeing life skills in children. Sensitizing the
public about the scheme could prevent stigma towards the beneficiaries of the scheme.