Identifying key strategies to promote positive mental health of young people in the state of Kerala, India

Abstract

In the context of the shortage of resources to close the alarming treatment gap of mental disorders, interventions to promote mental health have become a priority of policy makers in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) like India. In this paper, we document an attempt to identify key strategies to promote positive mental health of young people in the state of Kerala, India. Our results could be used for integrating the concept of positive mental health into public health interventions in the state. Focus group discussions among different groups of stakeholders were used to gather information about their attitudes, perceptions or opinions followed by a Delphi exercise involving policy-makers and experts to come to a consensus approach. In-depth exploration of possible policy options was made possible with the participation of experts in related fields using qualitative techniques. Findings from this qualitative study suggest that a life cycle approach may be helpful in identifying areas for possible effective policy interventions for promoting mental health in young people. Improving education and employment opportunities at a macro-level will have a positive impact on mental health. In conclusion, the promotion of mental health among young people should find a prominent place in health policies at national level.

Keywords:

• positive mental health
• health policy
• mental health promotion
• focus group discussion
• Delphi method

Acknowledgements

This study was done as part of the PhD research of the first author. The authors gratefully acknowledge the Fellowship provided by the Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST). The authors thank their director Dr K. Radhakrishnan for permitting to use the institute facilities to complete the work.

Ethical clearance: Institutional Ethics Committee, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, India, organized and operated according to the requirements of Good Clinical Practice and the requirements of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) approved the study (Order No: IEC/286 dated 15 May 2010). Informed consent was obtained from each study participant.

Notes

1. [email protected].

2. ASHA – Accredited Social Health Activist, working under the National Rural Health Mission, who is selected from the local community to impart health services at the grass root level.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

V.R. Kutty

1