Majority of reports on suicides in newspapers from Bangalore did not comply with standard guidelines of reporting. There is a strong need to evolve local guidelines and mechanisms for ensuring responsible reporting which have important implications in prevention of suicide.
Background: Substance use among college students is increasing, yet research regarding their viewpoints on how they can be helped is sparse in India. Aim: The purpose of this study was to explore in depth the perspectives of college students as to how college youth can be helped to quit the use of psychoactive substances. Method: Data from focus group interviews with 38 adolescent college students were analyzed qualitatively to identify their viewpoints on how today’s college youth can be helped to quit substance use. Interviews were transcribed verbatim, themes and subthemes were identified. Results: Three major themes (with subthemes) were identified: (1) Patterns of use (commonly used substances, methods of using), (2) Perceived reasons for use (to reduce negative emotions, academic pressure, peer influence, more freedom, rebellious attitudes, media influence, modeling effect, childhood trauma, distrust from family/friends, lack of knowledge regarding the adverse impact of substances, poor life skills, cultural gender-based discrimination) and (3) Interventions needed to help college youth to quit substance use (need for interventions, basic principles to follow when developing interventions, content to be included, methods to be employed for delivering the intervention). Conclusion: The information from this study can guide the development of a comprehensive intervention that is relevant and tailor-made to the specific needs of the college student population.
IntroductionVolunteering is any activity in which time is given to assist another individual, group, or organization. It assists people who want to get involved in philanthropic programs that help volunteers develop awareness and lead healthier personal and social lives. Several volunteers have received specialized training in the fields in which they volunteer, such as health, mental health, education, or emergency rescue. Volunteers are rendering intervention in different areas in mental health. They are providing psychosocial support to the individuals, groups, community, promoting mental health through conducting various mental health awareness programs in the community. There is a growing concern about mental health in India due to the inaccessibility of services. The National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) being a premier institute for mental health, is devising innovative approaches to mental health care to reach the unreachable. One such initiative was to build the capacity of volunteers in the community who are interested in working for the cause of mental health.MethodsThe objective of this study was to evaluate the outcome of the well-being volunteer program. This study used a descriptive cross-sectional research design, wherein all the 136 trained well-being volunteers (WBVs) were included as the study sample. The data was collected from the volunteers who attended the WBV program, which was initiated by NIMHANS Centre for Well-being (NCWB) and the Department of Psychiatric Social Work NIMHANS. A questionnaire on the outcome of the Well Being Volunteers program was developed for the study, and the Volunteer Motivation Inventory scale was used to collect the data from the WBVs. SPSS software was used to analyze the data. Ethical clearance was sought from the Institute Ethics Committee of NIMHANS.ResultsThe WBV program enhanced volunteers’ knowledge of mental health and benefited the volunteers in their personal and social life. They were also able to implement a satisfactory level of mental health-related volunteer activities in the community.ConclusionResults of present study and the available literature suggest that engaging in voluntary services improves mental health knowledge. WBV program has provided opportunity to Volunteers to participate in mental health delivery system at different levels.
Background: Psychoactive substance use among college youth is increasing in low- and middle-income countries like India. However, there are few systematically developed interventions for this vulnerable group. Aim: The aim of this study was to develop a skill-based intervention to prevent substance use among college students (or enable them to quit, if already initiated use). Method: The skill-based intervention was informed by focus group discussions with college students regarding the kind of help they perceived would be useful. The intervention was pilot-tested for its appropriateness and acceptability in this population, and revised based on their inputs. Results: The feedback received from the students was incorporated and the intervention was suitably revised. The final intervention adopted a disease prevention and health promotion approach, by addressing psychoactive substance use as a risk factor for several major illnesses, and providing practical guidance on how to overcome use. The intervention consisted of four sections: (i) Health effects of substances , with realistic depictions through computer graphics (e.g., to illustrate arterial blockage, brain shrinkage, lung damage, erosion of gastric mucosa, impaired sexual performance, premature aging); Clarification of Myths, Providing Medical Facts , (ii ) How to Overcome Substance Use , with practical strategies for quitting, (iii) Quitting Substance Use as part of a Healthy Lifestyle, (iv) Conclusion , portraying life after quitting substances, with motivational messages. Conclusion: The skill-based intervention received positive feedback regarding its applicability and acceptance among college students. An experimental trial can be planned to examine the efficacy of the intervention in bringing about improvement in specific outcomes.
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