Youth and suicidality: Correlates among clients attending youth mental health promotion clinics in India.

BACKGROUND: Suicidality among youth is one of the most challenging public health issues. A thorough understanding of the risk factors that contribute to youth suicidality is necessary. The main aim of the study is to estimate the proportion of suicidality and understand factors associated with suicidality amongst clients attending youth mental health promotion clinics in Karnataka, India. METHODS: A retrospective cross-sectional case record analysis was performed utilising data from real-time digitised management information system specifically developed for the programme. All case records of clients aged 15 to 35 years who received mental health promotion (MHP) services between January 2017 and December 2020 across 30 districts of Karnataka were included in this analysis. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed with suicidality among clients as outcome. Socio-demographic characteristics, issues reported, feelings/emotions that indicate underlying mental health issue/crisis, being aware of suicidality among friends and family and personal habits (smoking/chewing tobacco and drinking alcohol) were considered potential exposure variables. FINDINGS: Overall proportion of suicidality among youth presenting to youth mental health promotion clinics in Karnataka was 3.5% (357/10,340). Among factors associated with suicidality, the strongest association was found among those clients who reported attempted suicide among friends (AOR 8.94; 95% CI 5.95-13.45), family members (AOR 5.50; 95% CI 3.66-8.29), being anxious (AOR 4.90; 95% CI 3.43-6.99), inability to trust anyone (AOR 4.07; 95% CI 2.75-6.03), had issues of Gender, Sex and Sexuality (AOR 3.16; 95% CI 1.93-5.17) and relationship issues (AOR 2.77; 95% CI 2.05-3.73). CONCLUSION: The results alert all institutions, organisations and departments that cater to services and development of youth, to be sensitive towards risk factors of suicidality. The study advocates youth mental health promotion clinics to be equipped with measures/interventions to identify and manage such risk factors. This study has implications for Youth mental health promotion in India and other similar South-East Asian countries.

Health and Lifestyle Issues among Youth: A Record Analysis of Contributing Factors among Beneficiaries Attending Youth Mental Health Promotion Clinics (Yuva Spandana Kendras) in Karnataka, India.

Background: Youth are consideren to be most vulnerable to health and lifestyle issues (HLS) in India. The current study aims to investigate the factors that contribute to health and lifestyle issues among youth attending mental health promotion clinics (YMHP) in Karnataka. Method: Three-year first-visit data from beneficiaries (aged 15-35 years) attending YMHP clinics in Karnataka between 2017 and 2020 were analyzed. Multivariable logistic regression analysis included beneficiaries reporting any HLS issue as the outcome and a host of 57 hypothesized variables as exposures. Results: Overall, 2,615 (25%) beneficiaries reported HLS issues. Years of schooling (AOR 5-7 years = 0.89; 95% confidence interval [CI] =0.60-1.31), (AOR 8-10 years = 0.65; 95% CI = 0.46-0.91), (AOR >10 years = 0.67; 95% CI = 0.49-0.93)], unemployed youth (AOR = 0.52; 95% CI = 0.45-0.61) business and salaried workers (AOR = 1.69; 95% CI = 1.33-2.13), and other occupations (AOR = 2.11; 95% CI = 1.73-2.56), junk food consumption (AOR = 0.76;95% CI = 0.68-0.84), having issues related to relationships with parents (AOR = 3.01; 95% CI = 2.47-3.68) and intergenerational issues (AOR = 1.71; 95% CI = 1.19-2.45), self-development issues (AOR low-self-awareness = 1.57; 95% CI = 1.33-1.85), (AOR low-self-esteem = 1.29; 95% CI = 1.062-1.57), (AOR emotional issues = 1.57; 95% CI = 1.31-1.89), education and academics (AOR = 1.23; 95% CI = 1.09-1.39), safety issues (AOR = 4.11; 95% CI = 3.07-5.50), gender sex and sexuality issues (AOR = 2.44; 95% CI = 1.43-4.15), suicidal ideation (AOR = 1.91; 95% CI = 1.44-2.54), substance use (AOR tobacco chewing = 1.45; 95% CI = 1.09-1.93), (AOR tobacco-smoking = 1.66; 95% CI = 1.18-2.32), (AOR smoking = 4.94; 95% CI = 3.52-6.93) and experiencing emotions (AOR feel anxious = 1.63; 95% CI = 1.41-1.88), (AOR forgetfulness = 1.50; 95% CI = 1.41-1.98), (AOR difficulty in concentration = 1.37; 95% CI = 1.035-1.81), (AOR anger = 1.61; 95% CI = 1.25-2.07), (AOR feel worthless = 2.21; 95% CI = 1.71-2.86) were associated with HLS issues among beneficiaries. Conclusion: This analysis addresses an important but neglected component of HLS issues among youth highlighting the importance of early intervention among youth to prevent the development of diseases later in life. The study has important implications for youth health promotion in India and countries such as India. Health and Lifestyle Issues Among Youth: A record analysis of contributing factors among beneficiaries attending Youth Mental Health promotion clinics (Yuva Spandana Kendras) in Karnataka, India.

Prevalence and factors associated with tobacco use among beneficiaries attending the youth mental health promotion clinics (Yuvaspandana Kendra) in India: A case-record analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Chewing tobacco and smoking among youth leads to poor health outcomes. Understanding the factors associated with chewing tobacco and smoking is thus important for interventions. METHODS: A case-record analysis among 10340 youth (aged 15-35 years) attending a unique mental health promotion program, Yuva Spandana, across the state of Karnataka in southern India, was performed to assess prevalence of chewing tobacco and smoking. Multiple logistic regression was applied to determine the factors associated with their use. RESULTS: Overall, the prevalence of chewing tobacco and smoking among beneficiaries was 3% and 2.1%, respectively. The risk of tobacco chewing and smoking increased with age and risk was higher among males, married individuals and among all occupational categories, other than students. Adjusted odds ratios of chewing tobacco were found to be highest among business/salaried beneficiaries (AOR=3.48; 95% CI: 2.27-5.34), followed by ever married beneficiaries (AOR=3.41; 95% CI: 1.27-9.17). Adjusted odds ratios of smoking tobacco were highest among males (AOR=12.89; 95% CI: 7.5-22.14), followed by emotional experience of feeling worthless (AOR=4.19; 95% CI: 2.78-6.32), beneficiaries with poor relationship with family members (AOR=3.79; 95% CI: 1.38-10.44), and business/salaried beneficiaries (AOR=2.90; 95% CI: 1.79-4.7). Strength of association of males with smoking was much higher (AOR=12.89; 95% CI: 7.5-22.14) than compared with chewing tobacco (AOR=2.49; 95% CI: 1.89-3.28). CONCLUSIONS: Early identification of these factors associated with chewing tobacco and smoking will help in focusing on youth specific health promotion and interventions to improve their overall health and wellbeing.

Factors affecting relationship issues among clients attending youth mental health promotion services in India.

BACKGROUND: India today is home for the largest youth population in the world. Youth is a formative phase transitioning from childhood to adulthood. Relationship is fundamental for a healthy and satisfactory life. Relationships assume importance and maturity during adolescence and youth. Relationships and mental health have a bidirectional effect. The effect of relationships on mental health is stronger than vice versa. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two-year case record analysis of 8595 beneficiaries aged 15-35 years attending youth guidance centers (Yuva Spandana Kendras) in Karnataka, India, was undertaken to understand factors affecting relationship issues among them. Multivariate logistic regression was performed with any beneficiary having a relationship issue as outcome. RESULTS: Being a student (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.49; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.18-1.89), occupation (AORbusiness/salaried = 3.04; 95% CI = 2.10-4.40 and AORothers = 1.72; 95% CI = 1.22-2.44), marital status (AORmarried = 1.42; 95% CI = 1.06-1.90 and AORothers = 3.44; 95% CI = 1.45-8.15), having health and lifestyle issues (AOR = 3.61; 95% CI = 3.05-4.27), personality issues (AOR = 2.88; 95% CI = 2.43-3.41), safety issues (AOR = 6.28; 95% CI = 5.01-7.87), gender, sex, and sexuality issues (AOR = 3.10; 95% CI = 1.93-4.98), suicidality (AOR = 1.82; 95% CI = 1.17-2.85), alcohol use (AOR = 5.43; 95% CI = 3.92-7.41), and different emotions experienced (AOR ranging from 0.37 to 3.50), had significant association with relationship issues. CONCLUSION: Investing in health promotion interventions focusing on these precursors of relationship issues among youth seems strategic. Our findings have implications for other states in India and other low-middle-income countries like India.