Effect of yoga and counselling on mental health issues among adolescents in an urban slum of Mumbai: An Interventional Study

Abstract

ABSTRACT
Mental health problems in young people is associated with suffering, functional impairment, exposure to stigma,
discrimination, and enhanced risk of premature death. Thus, mental health problems among youth have obvious
public health significance.
METHODS
The objectives of the study are to assess the prevalence of mental health issues among adolescents in an urban slum
of Mumbai, implement an intervention (yoga and counselling) targeting key mental health concerns, and evaluate the
post-interventional mental health status. A total of 168 adolescents were selected from the urban slum population of
Mumbai for this interventional study. The General Health Questionnaire-28 (GHQ-28) was used to screen and assess
mental health status, identifying deviations from the individual's typical mental state. The intervention consisted of
yoga and counselling sessions conducted over a period of six months. Post-intervention assessment was conducted
using the GHQ-28 to evaluate changes in mental health outcomes.
RESULTS
After the intervention, distress as per the GHQ-28 score reduced from 85.1% to 57.7%, Somatic symptoms and social
dysfunction showed statistically significant improvement, while anxiety/insomnia symptoms improved partially
without statistical significance, and severe depression symptoms slightly decreased, though the change was not
statistically significant.
CONCLUSIONS
The intervention involving yoga and counselling led to a meaningful reduction in overall psychological distress among
adolescents. However, persistent symptoms in some domains highlight the need for sustained, community-based
mental health strategies