Sumitha T, S2018-02-022018-02-022016-10https://dspace.sctimst.ac.in/handle/123456789/10789Background: 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.Thesis