Violence and psychological distress are independently associated with suicidal behaviour; factors associated with gender disadvantage-in particular for rural women, may increase their vulnerabilities. Prevention programs for youth suicide in India need to address both the structural determinants of gender disadvantage, and the individual experiences of violence and poor mental health.

Purpose-To evaluate the acceptability, feasibility, and effectiveness of a population-based intervention to promote health of youth (age: 16-24 years) in Goa.Methods-Two pairs of urban and rural communities were selected; one of each was randomly assigned to receive a multi-component intervention and the other wait-listed. The intervention comprised educational institution-based peer education and teacher training (in the urban community), community peer education, and health information materials. Effectiveness was assessed through before-after population surveys at baseline and at 18 months. Outcomes were measured using a structured interview schedule with all eligible youth. Logistic regression compared each pair, adjusted for baseline differences, on prevalence of outcomes in the domains of reproductive and sexual health (RSH), violence, mental health, substance use, and help seeking for health concerns.Results-In both intervention communities, prevalence of violence perpetrated and probable depression was significantly lower and knowledge and attitudes about RSH significantly higher (p < .05). The rural sample also reported fewer menstrual complaints and higher levels of helpseeking for RSH complaints by women, and knowledge and attitudes about emotional health and substance use; and, the urban sample reported significantly lower levels of substance use, suicidal behavior, sexual abuse, and RSH complaints. Although information materials were acceptable and feasible in both communities, community peer education was feasible only in the rural community. The institution-based interventions were generally acceptable and feasible.Conclusions-Multicomponent interventions comprising information materials, educationalinstitution interventions and, in rural contexts, community peer interventions are acceptable and feasible and likely to be effective for youth health promotion. [7,8,10,11]. Conditions such as depression are associated with "non-traditional" lifestyles and urban residence [12]. These findings point to the need for youth health interventions to address a range of concerns concurrently, taking into account contextual variations. Europe PMC Funders GroupThere is a growing evidence base in developing countries of the effectiveness of interventions targeting health outcomes in youth [13][14][15]. These include school-based, curriculum-oriented psycho-education usually led by adults [16][17][18][19][20], information communication approaches [21,22], and community-based interventions delivered by peers, health workers, or provision of health services [23][24][25][26][27][28]. However, the bulk of interventions have focused on RSH, and all have targeted single outcomes. There is a dearth of evidence about the feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness of interventions that address the wider health needs of youth. Multicomponent interventions addressing a variety of outcomes and involving the community in its planning and implementation are more likely to be acceptable, effective, and sustainable ...

Background:Stigma associated with mental illnesses is one of the principal causes for mentally ill people not receiving adequate mental health care and treatment. The study was conducted to assess the extent of stigma associated with mental illness and knowledge of mental illness among the community.Materials and Methods:Community-based, cross-sectional study was conducted among 445 respondents from Udupi district; the community attitude toward the mentally ill (CAMI) scale was used to assess stigma. The probability proportional to sampling size technique was adopted to select the wards/blocks. Household from blocks/wards were selected using convenience sampling. Self- administered semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect the information. Data was analyzed using the software SPSS version 15.Results:Of the total 445 respondents, the prevalence of stigma toward mentally ill people was 74.61% (95% confidence interval, 0.7057, 0.7866). The prevalence of stigma was high under all the four domains of CAMI scale. High prevalence of stigma was seen among females and people with higher income.Conclusions:The overall prevalence of stigma toward PWMI was found to be high. The stigma toward PWMI was associated with gender with respect to AU, BE and CMHI. Hence, the study suggests that there is a strong need to eliminate stigma associated with mental illness to improve the mental health status of the region.

Caregivers of children living with HIV/AIDS (CLWHA) face unique challenges due to disease-related stigma and discrimination, isolation from society, financial constraints, grief and mortality of loved one. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at Udupi ART centre to assess the caregiver burden, psychological distress and their associated factors among the caregivers of CLWHA in Udupi District. The convenience sampling technique was used to collect the data from 171 caregivers and analysed with the help of SPSS version 15.0. Majority of caregivers were female (64.9%) with mean age of 38.1  ±  9.6 years. About 64.3% caregivers were HIV-positive and 63.2% were biological parents of CLWHA. Mild-to-severe caregiver burden on Zarit Burden Inventory (ZBI) was reported among 84.8% of caregivers, and mild-to-severe psychological distress on General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) was reported among 49.7% caregivers. Relationship with child was found to be a significant predictor of caregiver burden as compared to other relatives/foster (P< 0.001). Relationship with child (P 0.004), Alcohol use (P 0.008) and Schooling of children (P 0.049) were reported as significant predictors of psychological distress. Study concludes that caregiver burden and psychological distress were high among caregivers of CLWHA. Psychological problems of caregivers need to be addressed and integrated along with the clinical care of HIV-infected children at ART centres.

Background: Mobile phones have penetrated into the lives of common man to the extent of becoming one of the basic necessities for surviving in this modern world. Apart from the health effects of radiation from handsets, concerns have been raised over the behavioural effect of using mobile phones, especially among younger generation. Problematic mobile phones use (PMU) may be considered an addiction-like behaviour related to an individual's mobile phone use. Methods: A study was conducted among 1108 college students in the age group of 18-25 years to find the prevalence of PMU using a uni-dimensional problematic mobile phone use scale (PMUS) developed by the authors. The prevalence of PMU among the college students was 26.8% and it was related with psychological distress and other predictor variables using statistical analysis. Results: Psychological distress was present among 5.8% and lower self-esteem using was present among 13.2% of the participants. The mean score of GHQ among problematic mobile phone users was 10.14 (±4.87) whereas the score among Normal users was 7.85 (±3.42). A significant cross-sectional association was found in between problematic mobile phone use and psychological distress, lower self-esteem, gender, smartphone use, multiple chatting applications, committed relationship status, relationship with mother and frequency of mobile phone use. Conclusions: Health education is required for increasing awareness about PMU among the college students. Further research should be undertaken and factors related to PMU may be considered for intervention.