Mental Health counselling for Adolescents in India

Work Area: 

Bapunagar, Rakhiyal, Gomtipur, Saraspur and Ramolareas in East Ahmedabad, Gujarat

 Objectives :

v  To identify psychological problems prevailing among adolescents.

v  To intervene with adolescents so that they develop better coping skills to lead a better quality of life.

v  To provide psycho-education to parents where need arises.

v  To train teachers of schools in Bapunagar in providing support to adolescents.

v  To hold hands of teachers and monitor their performance.

 Awareness Meetings

Awareness raising meetings with adolescents were held at the community and school level. These meetings primarily focused on their day-to-day issues that have to be faced by them effectively with more strength and courage. The counsellor made efforts to identify the problems of the adolescents by noting their shared responses during the awareness meetings. 

79 awareness meetings were conducted at the schools and community level covering 2150 adolescents.

                   AREA                           NO. OF MEETINGS HELD            TOTAL ADOLESCENTS COVERED

~ Community                                                   72                                                                   1858

~ School                                                           06                                                                     292

TOTAL                                                             79                                                                    2150

 Number of cases handled

 A total of 54 cases were handled over the period. Of these, 11 cases approached the Centre, while 43 cases were handled by AWAG’s counsellor at the school level. 

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS OF THE CASES

 To summarize the total of 54 adolescent cases that were intervened with... 

• 49 cases (91%) fall under counselling category and 5 cases (9%) fall under psychiatric category.
• Out of the 49 counselling cases, 45 cases (92%) face academic problems and 4 cases (8%) face emotional / behavioural/ personal problems.
• Adolescents at the secondary stage (age group ranging from 16-22 years) seem to face more problems. Majority of them are going to school followed by school dropouts. Most dropouts are from Std.8 and 10.
• Out of 5 psychiatric cases, 1 case was ruled out as of Borderline personality disorder (Bipolar), 1 case as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, 1 case as VH with Mild Depression Disorder and 1 case as Tension Headache. These psychiatric cases were given individual as well as parental counselling sessions.

THANK YOU FOR THE CONTINUED SUPPORT!