1. CHILDREN AND LIFE SKILLS
Dr UNNIKRISHNAN R NAIR
PSYCHIATRIST
MENTAL HEALTH CENTRE , PEROORKADA

2. MENTAL HEALTH IN CHILDREN & ADOLESCENTS - CURRENT STATUS
10-20% experience a mental health condition
Globally depression is the 3rd leading cause of illness and disability among adolescents
Suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death in older adolescents

3. Substance abuse and other risk taking behavior especially sexual violence are rapidly increasing.
Behavioral disorders such as ADHD , Conduct disorder are also on the rise
½ of all mental health conditions start by 14 years of age but most are undetected and untreated

4. CONSEQUENCES
HEALTH
SOCIAL
ACADEMICS/ JOB
FINANCIAL
FAMILY

5. MENTAL HEALTH PROMOTION AND PREVENTION REMAINS THE KEY…..

6. MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS FOLLOW A SPECTRUM
NORMAL DEVELOPMENTAL VARIATIONS
PROBLEMS
TRUE DISORDERS

7. ETIOLOGY TEMPERAMENT COPING STYLES KNOWLEDGE
SOCIAL
BIOLOGICAL
PSYCHOLOGICAL
TEMPERAMENT
COPING STYLES
KNOWLEDGE
GENETICS
PARENTING STYLES, ENVIRONMENT
GENETIC vulnerability + PSYCHOSOCIAL stress leads to DISORDER

8. MODIFIABLE
NONMODIFIABLE

9. MODIFIABLE FACTORS PSYCHOLOGICAL LIFE SKILLS SOCIAL
SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT
FAMILY, SCHOOL, COMMUNITY

10. LIFE SKILLS

11. DEFINITION
WHO -THE ABILITIES FOR ADAPTIVE AND POSITIVE BEHAVIOUR THAT ENABLE INDIVIDUALS TO DEAL EFFECTIVELY WITH THE DEMANDS AND CHALLENGES OF EVERYDAY LIFE
UNICEF - A BEHAVIOUR CHANGE OR BEHAVIOUR DEVELOPMENT APPROACH DESIGNED TO ADDRESS A BALANCE OF THREE AREAS – KNOWLEDGE ,ATTITUDE & SKILLS

12. OBJECTIVE TRANSLATE “KAV” TO POSITIVE HEALTH BEHAVIOUR

13. HOW TO IMPLEMENT?

14. LIFE SKILLS APPROACH
life skills approach can be successful, if the following are undertaken together:
a) The Skills -This involves a group of psychosocial and interpersonal skills which are interlinked with each other. For example, decision- making is likely to involve creative and critical thinking components and values analysis.

15. CORE SKILL AREAS SELF AWARENESS & EMPATHY
EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION & INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS
CREATIVE THINKING & CRITICAL THINKING
DECISION MAKING & PROBLEM SOLVING
COPING WITH STRESS & EMOTIONS

16. b) Content –
To effectively influence behaviour, skills must be utilized in a particular content area.
Learning about decision- making will be more meaningful if the content is relevant and remains constant.
Such content areas as described could be drug use, HIV/AIDS/STI prevention, suicide prevention or sexual abuse.
Whatever the content area, a balance of three elements needs to be considered: knowledge, attitudes and skills.

17. ULLASAPARAVAKAL Personal care Cleanliness Healthy eating habits
Mental & social growth
Physical growth
Safety
Interpersonal relationships
Responsible behaviour

18. c) Methods
Traditional "information-based" approaches are generally not sufficient to yield changes in attitudes and behaviours.
It should be substantiated with exercises and situations where participants can practice safe behaviour and experience its effects.
The adult learning theory emphasizes that adults learn best that which they can associate with their experience and practice. If a message is given once, the brain remembers only 10 percent of it one day later, and when the same message is given six times a day, the brain remembers 90 percent of it. Hence the need to repeat, recap, reinforce and review.

19. METHODS Role play Discussions Debate Case presentation Survey
Rating scale
Activity
Rehearsal

20. Outcomes of Life Skills-Based Education
increased acquisition of knowledge
improved self-image, self-awareness
increased pro-social behaviour and decreased negative, self-destructive behavior
improved classroom behaviour;

21. increased the ability to plan ahead and choose effective solutions to problems
improved social and emotional adjustment
gains in self control and handling of interpersonal problems and coping with anxiety
improved constructive conflict resolution with peers, impulse control and popularity.

22. Research studies have also shown that
sex education based on life skills was more effective in bringing about changes in adolescent contraceptive use & delay in sexual debut
delay in the onset of alcohol and marijuana use
developing attitudes and behaviour necessary for preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS.

23. GROUP DISCUSSIONS

25. GROUP 2

27. HOW TO DECIDE? Knowledge Attitude values Self awareness & empathy
ASSESS
LIFE SKILLS
Knowledge
Attitude
values
Self awareness & empathy
Creative and critical thinking
Effective communication & interpersonal relationships
Coping with stress & emotions
Decision making & problem solving

28. THANKYOU