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Adolescent Minds Matter: Slum Project Offers Hope
21 Jan
Summary
- Mental health issues often begin before age 14.
- ARTEMIS project successfully combats depression in teens.
- Interventions use games and social media for mental well-being.
A groundbreaking project in urban Indian slums is transforming adolescent mental health. The ARTEMIS initiative, a collaboration between Indian and Australian institutions, focuses on providing sustained mental health interventions and counseling to teenagers aged 10 to 19. These adolescents often face adversities like poverty, violence, and academic pressure.
The project has demonstrated significant success, with participants showing marked improvements in mental well-being and a reduction in symptoms of depression, fear, stress, and anxiety. Researchers found that interactive tools like games, videos, and community-led campaigns were effective in addressing the pervasive stigma surrounding mental health.
ARTEMIS researchers identified triggers such as bullying, harassment, domestic violence, and academic pressure. They trained primary care doctors and involved adolescents in designing anti-stigma campaigns, using creative methods like street plays and board games. This community-driven approach proved highly effective in reaching and engaging vulnerable youth.
Building on ARTEMIS, the ANUMATI trial is now teaching life skills like self-esteem and decision-making to adolescents proactively. The overarching goal is to intervene early, preventing a lifetime of mental health difficulties and empowering the next generation.
