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Addressing Socioeconomic Determinants of Youth Suicidal Ideation: Lessons from a Youth Development Approach in India

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Abstract

Socioeconomic situations in young people’s families and communities make them more vulnerable to suicidal ideations. The Youth Helpline has made a significant difference in youth’s lives and livelihoods by addressing their social and economic needs with positive mental health support. The quantitative and qualitative data validate the micro- and macro-level impact of the Youth Helpline in Puducherry. However, the multi-stakeholder model faces challenges in ensuring accountability, particularly from government partners. This paper highlights how direct intervention on the socio-economic determinants of youth suicidal ideation has positively affected youth mental health and reduced suicidal ideation in Puducherry. Social identity-based inequalities and access and affordability to mental health services are the major contributors to youth mental health problems. This paper critically discusses the Youth Helpline’s multi-stakeholder process and youth-led approach to addressing socio-economic determinants, as well as the Helpline’s impact on youth mental health.

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Acknowledgements

The authors express our sincere gratitude to all the research participants, Puducherry Youth Helpline staff members, and volunteers. Special thanks to the J.J. Keller Foundation for their financial support to TYCL’s Youth Helpline project implementation to address socioeconomic determinants of youth suicidality in the study area.

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The authors did not receive support from any organization for the submitted research work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Trust for Youth and Child Leadership (TYCL) International, 508 West 121st Street, 10027, New York, NY, USA

    Siva Mathiyazhagan & Vaiju Raja

  2. TYCL, Puducherry, India

    Francis Kulandai Raj

  3. Columbia School of Social Work, New York, USA

    Kartika Fitrianingsih & Dawood Mayom

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  1. Siva Mathiyazhagan
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  2. Francis Kulandai Raj
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  3. Kartika Fitrianingsih
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  4. Vaiju Raja
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Correspondence to Siva Mathiyazhagan.

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Ethical Approval

Approval was obtained from the Institutional Review Board of Trust for Youth and Child Leadership (TYCL). The data and procedures used in this study adhere to the TYCL’s Youth Helpline operational standards.

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Mathiyazhagan, S., Kulandai Raj, F., Fitrianingsih, K. et al. Addressing Socioeconomic Determinants of Youth Suicidal Ideation: Lessons from a Youth Development Approach in India. Community Ment Health J 60, 340–353 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-023-01177-z

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