- Cyber and Traditional Bullying Victimization as a Risk Factor for Mental Health Problems and Suicidal Ideation in Adolescents

Abstract

Background: This systematic review provides a narrative synthesis of the evidence on the effectiveness of mental health promotion interventions for young people in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). Commissioned by the WHO, a review of the evidence for mental health promotion interventions across the lifespan from early years to adulthood was conducted. This paper reports on the findings for interventions promoting the positive mental health of young people (aged 6-18 years) in school and community-based settings. Methods: Searching a range of electronic databases, 22 studies employing RCTs (N = 11) and quasi-experimental designs conducted in LMICs since 2000 were identified. Fourteen studies of school-based interventions implemented in eight LMICs were reviewed; seven of which included interventions for children living in areas of armed conflict and six interventions of multicomponent lifeskills and resilience training. Eight studies evaluating out-of-school community interventions for adolescents were identified in five countries. Using the Effective Public Health Practice Project (EPHPP) criteria, two reviewers independently assessed the quality of the evidence. Results: The findings from the majority of the school-based interventions are strong. Structured universal interventions for children living in conflict areas indicate generally significant positive effects on students' emotional and behavioural wellbeing, including improved self-esteem and coping skills. However, mixed results were also reported, including differential effects for gender and age groups, and two studies reported nonsignficant findings. The majority of the school-based lifeskills and resilience programmes received a moderate quality rating, with findings indicating positive effects on students' self-esteem, motivation and self-efficacy. The quality of evidence from the community-based interventions for adolescents was moderate to strong with promising findings concerning the potential of multicomponent interventions to impact on youth mental health and social wellbeing.

Hidden Human Capital: Psychological Empowerment and Adolescent Girls' Aspirations in India

“…Hence these hidden forms of human capital could potentially serve as novel but critical targets in programs designed to boost the education and labor market outcomes of women. Importantly, an increasing evidence base shows the potential of interventions to increase youth self-efficacy and mental health in India as well as other countries (Barry et al, 2013;Krishnan & Krutikova, 2013;Leventhal et al, 2015). In Jharkhand, our analyses show that modifiable factors with strong correlations to self-efficacy include social supports, participation in training programs, and exposure to successful women.…”

Positive youth development programs for mental health promotion in Indian youth: an underutilized pathway

“…improved self-esteem, motivation and selfefficacy, increased pro-social bonding, cognitive, social and emotional competence, increased personal and social skills, higher levels of youth civic engagement, higher levels of behavioral and emotional engagement with school, and improved academic performance and so on. 34,35 A bulk of the studies have focused on youth at risk and utilized content targeting education about the specific kinds of risk in question (substance use, sexual and reproductive health, youth from slums or poverty ridden areas, etc. ), though there are a few that have focused on general samples of youth.…”

The Impact of Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Interventions on People Affected by Humanitarian Emergencies: A systematic review

“…However, 96 percent of the young people sampled 'looked forward' to participating in the sports and play activities because they were 'very important' to them, compared with just over half (54 percent) of young people who were not in agreement with the statement: 'The main thing is to have fun' (p. 1,151). The author concluded that possibly, given young people's current circumstances, 'being able to engage in sport and play has a more serious importance than "just" doing it for enjoyment'.…”