ADOLESCENT ISSUES emerging dimensions

The Life Skills Education and School Mental Health Programme RANJANA SINGH

I have never let my Schooling interfere with my Education - Mark Twain

 You know your children are growing up when they stop asking you where they came from and refuse to tell you where theyre going. P. J. O Rourke

WHY FOCUS ON ADOLESCENTS?

Adolescents aged 10 to 19 represent 1/5 of the worlds population
United Nations, 1997

There are over

1 billion
adolescents in the world

adolescent: 10 - 19 years

youth : 15 - 24 years

Empowering adolescents
Provide opportunities for making informed choices in real life situations. Improve adolescent-friendly health services and link with existing programmes. Provide education and build life skills. Create a safe and supportive environment.

Holistic Health Finding a Balance

Physical

Psychological Social

EVERYTHING HAPPENING ALL AT ONCE

Psychological (and emotional) growth

Effects of Physical Changes

Social Maturation Educational Development

Adolescence . . . . . Redefined

Adolescence a period of storm and stress

More so in current changing times

Parameters of normal psychosocial development differ vastly from rural to urban, culture to culture/community to community

Traditional benchmarks no longer valid

Greater risk of generation gap

Five Polarities of Adolescence

1. Rebellion for adult control/ need for direction 2. Wish for closeness/fear of intimacy 3. Push and test limits/see limits as sign of caring 4. Think of future/oriented to present 5. Sexually mature/cognitively not ready to experience sexuality

Whose job is it anyways?

Whose fault is it anyways?

Different Environmental Influences Affecting Self Concept

Attitude toward peers
Family personal problems Family economic problems Parents Attitude toward expectations members of the family Physical state of child

Adolescent Self-concept

Biological Maturation (early-average-late)

Opinion of peers

Impact of radio and television, etc

Religious affiliation School School opportunities demands

Raising a child is very much like building a skyscraper. If the first few storeys are out of line, no one will notice.
But when the building is eighteen or twenty storey high, everyone will see that it tilts.

Priority Health Issues & Concerns

Sexual and Reproductive Health
Nutritional Issues.

Substance Use/Abuse
Mental Health Promotion.

Accidental and Intentional Violence

Other issues of Growing Up

LIFE SKILLS
Life skills are abilities for adaptive and positive behaviour that enable individuals to deal effectively with the demands and challenges of everyday life.

Life skills are abilities that facilitate the physical, mental and emotional well-being of an individual (WHO)
(WHO)

LIFE SKILLS FRAMEWORK

Thinking Skills Social Skills

Self awareness Problem solving/decision making Critical thinking/creative thinking Planning and goal setting

Interpersonal relationships Communicating effectively Cooperation & teamwork Empathy building

Negotiation Skills Managing feelings / emotions Resisting peer / family pressure Consensus building Advocacy skills

PROMOTING PSYCHOSOCIAL COMPETENCE

Coping with emotions Self Awareness Empathy Communication Coping with stress Problem Solving

Life Skills

Decision making
Creative thinking

Interpersonal relationship skills

Critical thinking

Families, Lifestyles, and Parenting

Principle types of Parental Attitudes

Attitude Characteristic verbalization It is the child that makes the home interesting I hate him I wont bother him Handling of child Fondling, play, patience Reaction of child Security Normal personality development

Acceptance & affection

Overt rejection

Neglect, harshness, avoidance of contact, severe punishment

Aggressiveness , Delinquency, shallowness of affect

Principle types of Parental Attitudes

Attitude
Perfectionism

Characteristic Handling verbalization of child

I dont want him as he is. I must make him Over Of course, I like him, see how I sacrifice myself for him Disapprov al Fault finding coercion Spoiling nagging over indulgence , or hovering domination

Reaction of child
Frustration, lack of confidence, obsessive ness Delay in maturation, protracted dependence on mother spoilt child behaviour

Overprotection

Direct and Indirect Interactions Between Parents and Children

Marital Relationship

Child Behaviour and Development

Parenting

PARENTAL GUIDELINES
Effective discipline should be clear, consistent and concurrent.

It is more helpful to reward positive behaviours than demean difficult behaviours.

Ask about the reasons for disruptive behaviour. Alter the childs circumstances accordingly, as far as possible.

 Give positive feedback or recognition for adaptive and healthy behaviours. Inform in advance the consequences of exceeding those limits. Enforce the consequences immediately and without fail.

THE FIVE BASICS.

1. Love & connect.
2. Monitor & Observe.

3. Guide & Limit.

4. Model & Consult. 5. Provide & Advocate.

 Be their companion Create fond memories

The most beautiful experience is the mysterious.

It is this fundamental emotion which stands at the cradle of true art and true science.

Albert Einstein