Psychiatric Wellness among adolescent school going children of Jaipur City
Abstract
Mental disorders account for a large proportion of the disease burden in young people in all societies. Detecting these disorders and individual prone to these disorders at earlier ages can facilitate better treatment. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was carried out on 400 students as per Modified Mini Screen (MMS) scale to assess the psycho-wellbeing of students. General information regarding socio-demographic data and study pattern was also recorded. These data collected were analyzed and inferred with Chi-square test and ANOVA test of significance. Results: Out of total 400 students, 43 (10.75%) were in red zone of psycho-wellness and 152 (38%) were in orange zone whereas only 205 (51.25%) were in green. Although Psycho-wellness was not found to be associated with age, sex , religion and cast of family but significantly poor mental health was found in children of nuclear family, less educated mothers, working mothers and middle socio economic status of the family. Mental health was significantly poor in children who were single child, who had single parent and or any chronic diseased person in the family Conclusions: About half of students were completely mentally healthy otherwise every alternate student was found to have poor mental health that needs further evaluation for psycho-morbidity. Poor mental health was found in children of middle level educated mothers, working mothers, middle socio economic status of the family and in children who were single child, who had single parent and or any chronic diseased person in the family
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Introduction
Psycho-morbidity is one of the common and major emerging diseases all over the world. It is the curse of urbanization and development. Half of the world population is already urbanized and it is estimated that at least 60% of world population will live in megacities till 2030.1 Global trend of the average annual urban and rural growth in developing countries will be 20.3% and 0.4% respectively by year 2020 and 2025.2 . In India urban population is more than 30% and is expected to 56% by 2025.2 There is increase recognition of complex effects of urbanization on health. The nature of modern urbanization is having bad effect on mental health because of over crowing, pollution, stresses, rising level of violence, poor social support etc.3 Pandav R et al. 4 found a lifetime prevalence of 26.5% and 30% of major depression and anxiety disorders, respectively. The rate of serious mental illness was higher for 18 to 25 year olds (7.4 %) in 2008 than for any other age group over 18.5 In addition, the onset for 50 percent of adult mental health disorders occurs by age 14, and for 75 percent of adults by age 24.6
World Health Organization defines adolescents as young people aged 10-19 years. Twenty-one percent of India’s population is in age group of 10-19 years7 Early Indian studies reported prevalence rates of psychiatric disorders among children ranging from 2.6 to 35.6 % in age group of 10-14 years. 7-12 More recently psychiatric morbidity was reported 20.2% ( 20.64% in males and 19.82% in females) in 10-15 years children in Bhatinda Panjab.12
Conclusion
About half of students were completely mentally healthy otherwise every alternate student was found to have poor mental health that needs further evaluation for psycho-morbidity. Even so that one in 10th child was in red zone of psycho-wellness. Poor mental health was found in children of middle level educated mothers, working mothers, middle socio economic status of the family and in children who were single child, who had single parent and or any chronic diseased person in the family.