Vijayawada, May 1 (TNT): In a major step forward for adolescent mental health in India, The George Institute for Global Health India, an independent medical research institute, has demonstrated a scalable, community-based care model through Project ARTEMIS.
The study, conducted across 60 urban slum communities in New Delhi and Vijayawada, reported measurable reductions in depression, self-harm, and suicide risk among adolescents, according to Institute.
The ARTEMIS (Adolescents’ Resilience and Treatment nEeds for Mental Health in Indian Slums) project is the country’s first large-scale study focusing on adolescents living in urban slums.
It introduced a combined approach of digital mental health care and community-driven anti-stigma campaigns to tackle mental health challenges in economically disadvantaged settings.
The initiative reached over 70,000 adolescents through awareness programmes, with 3,739 participants enrolled in the study.
Of these, 47.1 percent were identified as high-risk for common mental disorders.
Encouragingly, around 86 per cent of high-risk adolescents in the intervention group accessed care from trained primary healthcare providers.
Highlighting the urgency of the issue, the study notes that millions of young people in India face mental health challenges, particularly those in urban slums where poverty, overcrowding, and limited access to care worsen vulnerabilities.
Dr. Sandhya Kanaka Yatirajula, Program Lead – Mental Health at the institute, said the project engaged adolescents aged 10–19 who shared experiences of stress related to academics, family pressure, peer relationships, gender restrictions, and uncertainty about the future.
Prof. Pallab Maulik, Director of Research and Principal Investigator, explained that ARTEMIS followed a two-pronged strategy—using locally tailored multimedia campaigns to reduce stigma and a digital system to screen and provide care for adolescents at risk.
After one year, participants in the intervention group showed significantly improved knowledge, attitudes, and behaviour towards mental health.
The group also recorded a notable decline in depression scores compared to the control group, with results showing strong statistical significance.
Despite challenges such as stigma, parental hesitation, and access issues, the model proved both feasible and effective in community settings.
The study involved collaboration with leading institutions, including King’s College London, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, University of Toronto, University of Hyderabad, and Young Lives India, underscoring its global and national significance.
TNT KM
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