Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
References
Dr Balachandran M (2001): Psychology for Nursing Students, Maanas Publishers,
Thiruvananthapuram.
Page D. James (1987): Abnormal Psychology, A Clinical Approach to
Psychological Deviants, Tata Mc Graw-hill Publishing Company Ltd., New Delhi.
www.narmh.org/publications/rmh.aspx
www.raconline.org/info_guides/mental_health
www.nasponline.org/advocacy/mhbrochure.aspx
Gratitude
We are grateful to Dr Pandi S, Professor and head, Dept. of Social Work,
Arignar Anna Govt. Arts College, Karaikal, the honorary special editor for
this issue. We thank him for his timely editorial and for co-opting Dr Ilango
P (Prof and head, Dept of Social Work, Bharatidasan University, Trichy)
and Dr Umesh Samuel Jebaseelan (Reader, PG and Research Dept of
Social Work, Bishop Heber College, Trichy) as honorary committee
members for this month. We are grateful to them and Dr Suneetha K for
her consent to be the honorary special editor for the month of March 2010.
The focus is Essentials of Health and Hygiene. Contributors are
requested to send articles before 20th February 2010. ~Ed.
Corrections
JSSW January 2010 issue
Inside wrapper bottom:
Photograph on the left is that of Dr Paranjothi Ramalingam J and the one
on the right is that of Dr Pandi S. It is regretted that the photographs were
accidentally switched. ~Ed
Page For Read
3 Example of visionary Examples of visionary
8 We tahnk We thank
15 The following are The following is
24 Statement made by Statements made by
14 Journal of SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK February 2010
Focus Coping Strategies of
Rural Adolescent Girls of Delhi –
An Empirical Study
Sadhna Jain*
* Sadhna Jain, Associate Professor, University of Delhi, Delhi.
Introduction Methodology
Adolescence represents a difficult The study was done on adolescents,
developmental period in one’s life. An studying at Sarvodaya Kanya
adolescent has to attend to multiple Vidyalaya, Bawana, Delhi. They were
demands from different quarters and observed and interviewed to obtain
these demands may become the information on stress causing
potential causes of stress, if not met situations related to home, finance,
in time and effectively. Thus, it is very peer groups, school and their coping
important to get insight into the strategies. Thirty adolescent girls
psychology of adolescents in the studying in XI standard were selected
present times and evolve strategies for the study after administering
for healthy and productive ‘Sinha’s Comprehensive Anxiety
development of future generation. Scale’ Hindi version, developed by
Keeping this in view, the author A.K.P. Sinha (Patna) and L.N.K.
conducted the present study. Sinha (Patna), 1999. Aggregate
Objectives marks of XI class were taken from
The objectives of the study were to: the school records to find out the Karl
1 Identify the common life stressors Pearson coefficient of correlation
faced by the adolescent girls living between anxiety scores and the
in a village situated at the outskirts general scholastic performance of
of Delhi. adolescents under study.
2 Identify the methods/ strategies Findings and discussions
the adolescent girls use to cope with The study revealed the major causes
these stressors. of stress for adolescents at home
3 Identify the relation between were restrictions imposed by their
stress and the general scholastic parents on their dress, outings,
performance of the adolescent girls. viewing television, inviting friends
Journal of SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK February 2010 15
and talking to neighbours. They situation, discussing the issue with
perceived their relationship with their parents during peaceful time,
parents as ranging from good to engaging themselves in household
unsatisfactory. The reasons given for work, confiding in sister, start doing
unsatisfactory relationship were school work and pondering over the
narrow-mindedness of the parents, issue. Adolescents often disagreed
parental scolding and dominating with their friends which made them
nature of parents. One of the most stressful. They tried to cope with
stressful issues between adolescents stress by analyzing their own
and their parents (especially thoughts, agreeing with their friend’s
mothers) was allocation and opinions, discussing positive and
performance of household chores. A negative view points, compelling
few adolescents reported that their friends to agree or getting angry with
parents complained of their mistakes them.
to near relatives or neighbours which Stress of studying
caused stress in them. Half the adolescents felt stress
Coping strategies related to studies. Issue related to
Adolescent girls under study studies which made them anxious
employed various coping strategies were non-comprehension of the
which were either emotion-focused subject, getting less marks in
or problem-focused. Some of the examination, difficult chapters
emotion-focused strategies which coming in exams, difficulty in
they used were crying, refusing food, memorizing the text and disturbance
silence, sitting alone, fighting and during examination time. They took
hitting siblings, expressing suicide, various steps like taking private
feeling helpless, yelling, stop tuitions for subjects in which they
studying, answering back and were weak, relearning, devoting
disobeying parents. The problem- more time to difficult subjects, getting
focused strategies used by them irritated and angry with themselves
were trying to improve their due to stress related to studies.
behaviour, controlling themselves, About a third of adolescents reported
start studying, making fun of the unfair behaviour of the teachers,
16 Journal of SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK February 2010
scolding and corporal punishment
class). The value for coefficient of
given by the teachers, difficulty in
correlation was -0.19. Low value of
comprehending text as teachers
correlation showed no perceptible
didn’t re-teach, lack of proper
relationship between anxiety and
infrastructure in school as some of
scholastic achievement of
the factors which were stressful to
adolescent girls. (For example, a
them. student with an anxiety score of 66
Financial difficulties
could secure 268 marks and another
Another third of adolescents reported
student with a low anxiety score of 3
stress faced by them due to financial
had secured only 239 marks.) The
difficulty. To overcome this they gave
negative value of coefficient of
private tuitions, borrowed money
correlation showed that anxiety
from friends, compelled parents to
scores and general scholastic
fulfill their demands or accepted
achievement are not directly related
parental decisions. to one another. The reason for
Due to stress, adolescents under
obtaining low value of negative
study also faced sleeping difficulties.
correlation may be that rural
They tried to cope with stress by
adolescent girls as well as their
thinking of good days, diverting
parents did not have high aspirations
attention from the stress causing
related to academics.
stimulus, planning for next day, trying
Many of these responses may seem
to change their mood, walking,
trivial to the adults (parents) but to
turning sides on bed and forcibly
the adolescents these were very
keeping their eyes closed. disturbing issues.
Statistical correlation Recommendations
Karl Pearson’s coefficient of
àParents should create a happy
correlation was calculated to
and expressive atmosphere at
determine the relationship between
home by giving opportunity to
the anxiety scores obtained from
children to express their feelings.
Sinha’s Comprehensive Anxiety Test
àParents should spend quality time
and general scholastic performance
with their children.
(aggregate marks obtained in XI
à They should understand
Journal of SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK February 2010 17
individual differences among their à Channelization of stress into
children in their abilities and constructive avenues should be
capabilities and should not compare taught to reduce stress.
them. Conclusions
àYoung adolescent must be given Rural adolescent girls of Delhi got
reasonable freedom with respect to disturbed by issues related to home,
their personal matters. finance, school and friends. They
àAdolescents should be included used various coping strategies. The
in family finance conferences. relation between anxiety scores and
à The assessment of cognitive, scholastic performance was not
social and emotional characteristics significant. Thus, whether we regard
should be done regularly in schools. the education of the adolescent girls
àParent-teacher meetings should from the aspect of traditional goals
be organized regularly in schools. of schooling, the aspect of personal
àThe school should foster all round development or the aspect of
development of the students. furthering mental health in society, we
àStudents should be helped to must take fully into account the girls’
develop effective learning anxieties and the inner role of feeling.
strategies, efficient study and work Here are some guidelines to deal with
habits and help the students to the stress of adolescent girls at home
make realistic carrier choices based and at school level. At each level it is
on their innate potentials and market very important to sensitize persons
realities. in authority about causes and
à Teachers should not be consequences of adolescent stress
prejudiced and partial to students. and the need to prevent or reduce it.
References:
Dusek Jerome B.(1991) Adolescent development and behaviour,II edition, Prentice
Hall:New Jersy.
James H.Hemming(1960) Problems of adolescent girls, Academic Press Great
Britain, London.
Kumari H. and Prakash I.J.(1986) Life stress and mental health:a study of age
and sex differences. Journal of personality and clinical studies, Vol.2(2),pages103-
107.
Mehta M.(2000) : Adolescent Psychology,Pointer publications:Jaipur.
18 Journal of SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK February 2010
Focus Rural Mental Health:
Role of the Mental Health Nurse
Sailaxmi Gandhi*
*Dr Sailaxmi Gandhi, Assistant Professor at the Department of Nursing,
NIMHANs, Bangalore
Introduction Sakalwara, in South India show that
India is a country of villages. There about 90% of the persons with
are more than half a million villages schizophrenia and epilepsy were ill
of differing population sizes less than for more than one year at the point
1000 (75%) and about 500 people of contact. Similar findings have
(60%). Considering that a majority been reported from the rural area of
(about 70%) of India’s population Raipur Rani in North Indian State of
hails from a rural background, it is Haryana. On enquiry it was learnt,
vital that extreme importance be almost all the persons have sought
given to the rural sector. help from locally available traditional
Problems of the mentally ill in healers. The mentally ill, in the rural
the rural sector areas ‘suffer in silence’ due to
People with mental disorders are problems of transport, cost of
seen in large numbers both in clinical treatment, lack of awareness of the
settings as well as in the community available help and wrong beliefs in
and are in need of help. At least 30- supernatural causation.
40% of people who seek help from Initiatives by the Government of
primary care doctors may suffer from India
minor mental disorders like Government of India has executed
depression, anxiety, hysteria, or mental health care through National
somatoform disorders. Less than Mental Health Programme (NMHP-
10% of mentally ill get care by 1982), District Mental Health
professionals. The rest are often ill- Programme, District Hospital
treated, mismanaged and finally Psychiatric Units (DHPUs) and
rejected by the community as they General Hospital Psychiatric Units
become chronic disabled individuals. (GHPUs). Some of the initiatives are:
The studies in the villages of à With active involvement of
Journal of SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK February 2010 19
department of health and family integrated into the revised syllabi of
welfare Karnataka and District all nursing academic courses.
Administration of Bellary, NIMHANS Opening of ANM, GNM schools and
implemented NMHP in the Bellary scheme for Faculty Development
district, producing a district model of Programme of M.Sc. (Nursing) for
integration of mental health care into high-focussed states has been
the existing health care system initiated (Dileep Kumar, 2010).
during 1984-1991. Role of the mental health nurse
à The National Rural Health The Mental Health Nurse in the rural
Mission (NRHM) under the universal setting needs to be knowledgeable,
health programme was formulated assertive, flexible, and innovative.
to address the needs of India’s rural The mental health nurse has various
population. roles some of which are:
àUnion Health and Family Welfare àClinician role: Delivering direct
Minister, Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad care to the client.
has made the following offer for à Therapeutic role: Employing
medicos: do a one-year rural stint, psychotherapeutic and behavioural
get 10% marks in the national methods of care to the client.
medical entrance exam for post- à Educator: Educates the
graduate courses, do a two-year community, other professionals
stint, get 20% marks and three years about preventive aspects and
gets 30% marks (TOI, 2009). promotion of mental health.
àHe also announced in Nagpur on à Manpower facilitator: Trains
16th Jan, 2010 that a three and a community leaders, school teachers
half year medical education cadre and other care-givers.
will be launched by the central à Administrator: Manages
government to produce doctors who resources and work priorities, plans
will be later posted in rural areas and co-ordinates the development
(TOI, 2010). of future pattern of community care.
Initiatives by the Indian Nursing à Domiciliary care: Visits the
Council homes of clients, provides services
The concept of NRHM has been such as administration of
20 Journal of SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK February 2010
medication, assesses the level of helping the individual, the family and
functioning and improvement of the rural community to interact in
clients, monitors side effects of more adaptive ways so that mental
drugs, counsels clients etc. in the health is maintained. All mental
clients home setting. health professionals such as the
àLiaison role: Nurses help bridge psychiatrist, psychiatric social worker,
the gap between the client and psychiatric nurse and clinical
hospital. psychologist need to work in a multi-
àPrevention role: Aims at primary, disciplinary team approach towards
secondary and tertiary prevention. promoting rural mental health
Conclusion through proactive measures and
Rural mental health focuses on team effort!
References:
Chandrashekar C. “Integration of Mental Health in Primary Health”. Health for
the Millions, Vol,20, No.4, 1994, pp.5-10
Dileep Kumar, XXIII SNA Biennial Conference, Kolkota, The Nursing Journal
of India, Vol.CI, No.1, Jan. 2010, pp.3-8
Times of India, Dec.25,2009, pp.12
Times of India, Dec.26, 2009, pp.1
Times of India, Jan. 17, 2010, pp.9
Thanks
We are thankful to all the contributors whose articles had been published
and also those whose articles could not be published owing to space and
time constraints. Kindly send the articles before 20th February 2010 for
consideration.
We are thankful to our subscribers Ms Sudeshna Chakrabarti (6621211),
Dr Lakshmanapathi V (6630112), Shri Kannan G (6531114), Centre for
Studies in Rural development (6640115), Renchy Koshy Verghese
(6650111), Vijayalakshmi N K (6660111) Lalchand College of Arts and
Science (6670311) Shri Krishnan T N (6680112) Dr Janet Vasantha
Kumari (6690112) Indore School of Social Work (6700111) Dr Suneetha
K (6710115), Vidya Vikas First Grade College, Mysore (672011)
and Thanthai Roever College of Nursing, Perambalur (6730811) ~Ed.
Journal of SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK February 2010 21
Focus Mental Health of Children –
Tsunami Victims
Sivakumar K*
Sivakumar K, Asst. Professor, P.G. Department of Social work, Arignar Anna Govt.
Arts. Colleage, Karaikal – 609 605. e-mail : siva.harshii@gmail.com
Introduction was told that her mother had been
Undersea disturbance of December admitted in hospital. She was in a
26th 2004 is the biggest ever in terms very depressed mood and wanted
of destruction in recent history that her father to show her mother. She
triggered tsunami as well as. did not talk with anyone,demanding
Thousands of citizens of 55 countries her mother back.
were killed by tsunami, the àMalar, 18 year-old girl said that,
destructive waves which rendered she saw her parents being dragged
one million homeless. As the majority away by tsunami waves. Further,
of those killed were women and she said that, “I am unable to sleep
children, a study was conducted or eat after the tragedy. I feel highly
among children in Karaikalmedu depressed.”
village at Karaikal with the following àAnbu, seven year-old boy, lost
objectives. four of the family members in
a)To find out the mental health tsunami. He stayed in an orphan
problem of children due to tsunami. home. He expressed his feelings of
b)To analyze the impact of mental shock. He wants to be alone. He is
health problem on day to day unable to concentrate in his studies.
activities. Findings
c)To suggest suitable remedial The following are the findings of
measures for developing positive mental health problems faced by
mental health. tsunami affected children:
The observation of revealing facts of à Children refused to return to
children are given below: school.
Case studies àExhibited ‘clinging’ behaviour,
à Sivaranjini, four year-old girl, including shadowing mother or
lost her mother in December but she father around the house.
22 Journal of SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK February 2010
àCent percent of the children have àThe care takers, counsellors and
persistent fears related to the teachers have to coordinate and
catastrophe. discuss for improving their life style.
àMost of the children (90%) face Proper vocational guidance must be
sleep disturbances such as provided.
nightmares, screaming during sleep àThe Government must provide
and bedwetting, persisting for continuous support for their uplift.
several days after the event. àNon-governmental organizations
àMajority of the children (80%) also have to extend continuous,
misbehave in schools. persistent help towards their
àAll the children are unable to psycho–social development.
concentrate properly. Conclusion
àAll are jumpy and startled easily. In young children, upsetting dreams
àMajority of the children repeatedly of the traumatic event may change
re-experience the traumatic event. into nightmares of monsters due to
Suggestions posttraumatic stress disorder
àCounselling helps children to (PTSD). All citizens are responsible
relieve from distress. for taking care of children ailing from
àThe play-way method of teaching this type of mental health problem.
creates better feeling of zeal and Appointment of social workers in
happiness. schools is very much essential for
à The teachers have to follow promoting better mental health
alternative method of teaching. among students.
References:
Asha Bhat nagar Nirmala Gupta (1999): Guidance and Counselling , Vikas
Publishing house, Delhi.
Digumarti Bhaskara Rao, (2004): Guidance and Counselling, Discovery Publishing
house, New Delhi.
Hindu online edition, January 2005.
Pasricha P (2006): Guidance and Counselling in Indian Education, NCERT,
New Delhi.
Warters J (2007): Techniques of Counselling, Mc. Graw Hill, New Delhi.
Future Focus
Mar 2010 Dr Sunitha K (AP) Essentials of Health and Hygiene
Apr 2010 Dr Chindhai Jayaraman Essentials of Self-confidence
May 2010 Dr Visvanathan S (AU) Acceptance of Differences
Articles have to be sent before 20th of the preceding month to facilitate
peer review. Please append references in APA style. ~Ed.
28 Journal of SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK February 2010
Focus Mental Health: Some Crucial Factors
Sudeshna Chakrabarti*
Kamlesh Kumar Sahu**
Soma Hazra***
*
Sudeshna Chakrabarti, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Maharaja
Bir Bikram College
P.O. – Agartala College,Tripura (W), Pin – 799004 (India)
**
Kamlesh Kumar Sahu, Programme Coordinator , PARIPURNATA 1912,
Panchasayar Road P.O Panchasayar, Kolkata – 700094 (India)
***
Soma Hazra, Lecturer, Department of Psychology, Bangabasi College, 19,
Rajkumar Chakraborty Sarani. Kolkata – 700009
Introduction isolation, stigma, poor or non-existent
A romanticised ideal of rural life has transport and inaccessibility or
been pervasive among the privileged absence of services are
members of our society for at least characteristics of rural areas
three centuries. This view of our (Bentham and Haynes, 1986) which
society gives rise to assumptions do not fit comfortably with the popular
which continue to influence (and professional) assumptions that
Government policies in a wide variety the rural environment offers
of areas including transport, protection from mental illness. Many
employment, education and health rural communities lack adequate
(Gregoire and Thornicroft, 1998). Yet mental health services. Additionally,
rural areas lack access to and there are specific problems
availability of mental health associated with delivery of services
specialists, such as psychiatrists, to rural citizens (Voss, Steven L.,
psychologists, psychiatric nurses and 1996). The more recent literature
social workers. Poverty, geographic allows us to obtain some of the detail
isolation and cultural differences and extract more meaningful
further hinder the amount and quality conclusions by examining the
of mental health care available to influence of factors such as poverty,
people in rural areas (NIMH, 2000). unemployment, low level of literacy,
Rapidly increasing homelessness, violence in the society, drug abuse
lack of supported housing, social and alcoholism, malnutrition,
Journal of SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK February 2010 29
ethnicity and geographic effects. environmental effect. The results
Poverty suggest that the link between poor
An association was found between neighbourhoods and children’s
indicators of poverty and the risk of mental health may be a true
mental disorder. Factors such as environmental effect and can be used
experience of insecurity and to identify modifiable risk factors for
hopelessness, rapid social change promoting child health (Caspi et al,
and the risk of violence and physical 2000).
ill-health may explain the greater Unemployment
vulnerability of the poor to common India, undoubtedly, is grappling with
mental disorder. The direct and the problem of unemployment.
indirect cause of mental ill-health Unemployment is a situation
worsens the economic condition, characterized by the existence of
setting up a vicious cycle of poverty those able bodied persons who are
and mental disorder (Patel and willing to work but have to do without
Kleinman, 2003). Mother’s weak a job that may yield them some
emotional responsiveness and regular income. There is a sharp
frequent use of physical punishment increase in the working population
explain the effect of current poverty engaged in agriculture without a
on mental health (McLeod and corresponding increase in the area of
Shanahan, 1993). cultivation. All seem to be employed
A study has shown that children in but enough work is not available for
deprived neighbourhoods were at all. This is disguised unemployment
increased risk for emotional and (Nishant, 2009).
behavioural problems over and Farmers are an almost exclusively
above any genetic liability. rural occupational group with a
Environmental factors shared by particularly high suicide risk, which
members of a family accounted for ranks fourth in order of risk by
20% of the population variation in occupation and now accounts for the
children’s behaviour problems, and second most common cause of death
neighbourhood deprivation for male farmers under 45 (accidents
accounted for 5% of this family-wide being the first). In terms of absolute
30 Journal of SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK February 2010
numbers of suicides, farmers have impact on children’s mental health.
the highest numbers of any Domestic violence predicted
occupation in the UK – recently, India children’s general psychopathology.
is also witnessing larger incidences Finally, there was less sibling and
of suicides among the farmers. parental warmth in families marked
These high rates are related to by aggression, although when it was
depressive illness (Malmberg et al, present, family social support failed
1997). to buffer children (McCloskey et al,
Low level of literacy 1995).
It was found that education Drug abuse and alcoholism
influences mental health. Drug addiction is becoming a major
Stigmatization towards mentally ill health problem in India with some
individuals is also due to low level of estimates indicating that as many as
literacy among the rural masses 15 million people in India could
(Bourget Management Consulting for become addicts by the end of 2004
the Canadian Alliance on Mental (Gupta, 2005). There are a number
Illness and Mental Health, 2004). of contributors to the growing
Social violence prevalence of substance abuse in
The presentation of domestic rural areas. Among these is the lack
violence is often culture specific. of access to treatment programmes
Studies showed that rural women in rural areas combined with the
experienced physical, verbal, reluctance of substance abusers to
emotional, and sexual abuse, seek available treatment.
harassment, stalking, and abuse with Malnutrition
a weapon in their current intimate The prevalence of underweight
relationship (Krishnan et al, 2001). children in India is among the highest
Research describes particular threats in the world, and is nearly double that
to local women including dowry of Sub-Saharan Africa with dire
deaths, honour murder, sati, and consequences for mobility, mortality,
disproportional exposure to HIV/ productivity and economic growth
AIDS. It was also seen that effects (The World Bank, 2009a). Women
of systemic family violence have an tend to be at a higher risk of
Journal of SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK February 2010 31
malnutrition in rural areas limits prevalence of schizophrenia, specific
intellectual development (Carson et areas of very high and very low
al, 2000). prevalence have been described
Ethnicity throughout the world with upto 20-
Growing ethnocentrism is not only fold variations in rates (Torrey, 1987).
violating our unity but destroying the Conclusion
continuum of social harmony. In Educational initiative that provides
recent decades ethnicity is one of the evidence based information has
major causes of violence and unrest reduced stigma to some extent. The
in India including villages which has Ministry of Health and Family Welfare,
evil effect on mental health. Government of India has revitalized
Geographical effects the DMHP based the available
Rural communities are located in the evidence (NIMHANS) and envisages
remote areas. In addition to the extension of District Mental Health
international differences in Programme (DMHP) to all the districts
distribution of psychiatric morbidity in the country as part of the 11th five
across rural and urban areas specific year plan. It’s a new hope for
clusters of high levels of specific escalating mental health obviously for
disorder have been described. The rural community too.
References:
Patel V and Kleinman A (2003): Poverty and Common Mental Disorders in
Developing Countries. Bull World Health Organ, Vol. 81(8): 609-615.
Carson RC, Bucher JN, Mineka S (2000): Abnormal Psychology and Modern
Life. Pearson Education, 523-541.
Caspi A, Taylor A, Moffitt TE, Plomin R (2000): Neighbourhood Deprivation
Affects Children’s Mental Health: Environmental Risks Identified in a Genetic
Design. Psychological Science; Vol. 11(4):338-342.
Krishnan SP, Hilbert JC, VanLeeuwen D (2001): Domestic Violence and Help-
Seeking Behaviours among Rural Women: Results from a Shelter-Based Study.
Family and Community Health; Vol. 24(1):28-38.
Published and owned by P. Jayachandran Naidu. Published from
8, Sridevi Colony, 7th Avenue, Ashok Nagar, Chennai 600083 and
printed by T. Rajaguru at TRK Press, 39, Saidapet Road, Vadapalani,
Chennai 600026. Editor: P. Jayachandran Naidu.
32 Journal of SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK February 2010
Journal of SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK February 2010
Journal of SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK February 2010