Mental Health, Coping Styles Of Tribal Students In Warangal District

Abstract

India is home to the largest tribal populations of the world, with 8.6% of total Indian population belonging to Scheduled Tribes who constitute 705 tribal groups across India. The tribal populations have greater vulnerability to mental health issues for multiple reasons. The impact of rapid social changes alters their lifestyles, beliefs and community living. The strain of acculturation to moving to urban spaces and use of alcohol and other substances predisposes them to a number of mental health issues. Mental health describes a level of psychological well-being, or an absence of a mental disorder. From the perspective of ‘positive psychology’ or ‘holism’, mental health may include an individual’s ability to enjoy life, and create a balance between life activities and efforts to achieve psychological resilience. Mental health can also be defined as an expression of emotions, and as signifying a successful adaptation to a range of demands. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), mental health includes "subjective well-being, perceived self-efficacy, autonomy, competence, inter-generational dependence, and self-actualization of one's intellectual and emotional potential, among others." Coping style is essential for the well-being of the tribal students for overall development and overcome problems successfully. Proactive coping refers to the cognitive and behavioral efforts made by individuals to prevent or prepare for potential stressors or challenges in their lives. In the case of tribal students, they may face unique stressors and challenges related to their cultural identity, discrimination, and socioeconomic status, which may impact their well-being and ability to cope with adversity. Previous research has suggested that individuals who engage in proactive coping strategies are more likely to experience higher levels of subjective well-being.