A scoping review of community-based mental health intervention for children and adolescents in South Asia

Abstract

Children and adolescents in South Asia are exposed to significant mental health risks. Yet, policy to prevent treat youth mental health problems in this context is underdeveloped, and services are difficult to access. Community-based mental health treatment may offer a potential solution, by increasing resource capacity in deprived settings. However, little is known about the current community-based mental health provision for South Asian youth. A scoping review was conducted across six scientific databases and hand searching of reference lists to identify relevant studies. Study selection and data extraction were performed by three independent reviewers using pre-defined criteria, an adapted version of the TiDieR checklist, and the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool. The search identified 19 relevant studies published from January 2000 to March 2020. Studies most frequently addressed PTSD and autism, were conducted in India and Sri Lanka, used education-based intervention, and were based in urban, school settings. Community-based mental health provision for the South Asian youth is in its infancy, but holds promise for providing essential resources to treat or prevent mental health disorder. New insights on approaches are discussed which are valuable for South Asian settings, primarily task-shifting and stigma reduction, with implications for policy, practice and research.

Evaluation of the Effect of Mental Health Education on Improving Adolescents’ Social Adaptability

“…Both positive and negative adaptation involve the interaction between the individual's internal system and the social environment system. Psychologist Spencer put forward the term "social adaptation," and he believes that life is the adjustment of internal relations and external relations, and individuals adapt to the external environment through continuous adaptation, assimilation, and compliance [10]. Social adaptability refers to a kind of executive ability that people can make various adaptive changes in psychology, physiology, and behavior in order to better survive in society, so as to achieve a harmonious state with society [11].…”

“…Young people with strong self-adaptive ability can quickly adjust their mentality and behavior after being affected by the environment, forming a new style, while young people with poor self-adaptation ability are difficult to accept the change in themselves after being affected by the environment thus unable to adapt to environmental changes, resulting in development stagnation or wrong road [14]. Interpersonal adaptability refers to the ability of adolescents to handle interpersonal relations well, which requires people to adjust and control themselves and make correct and appropriate responses in the process of contact with others [10]. Adolescents with strong interpersonal adaptability can maintain a harmonious and stable relationship with others, which is respectful, honest, and friendly, while adolescents with poor interpersonal adaptability are difficult to establish a stable interpersonal relationship with others, and even unwilling to contact and communicate with strangers.…”