Psychological Distress among Care Recipients Attending Youth Mental Health Promotion Centers across Karnataka, India

Background: Yuva Spandana (YS) is a unique community-based youth mental health promotion program implemented across Karnataka.

Objective: We assessed factors affecting PD among the population served by YS between January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2021.

Materials and methods: A retrospective cross-sectional analysis was done utilizing the visit forms of 10,340 YS's care recipients. A conceptual framework was developed, and all hypothesized variables within this framework were considered exposures. All exposure variables significant at P < 0.10 in univariate analysis were included in multivariable analysis. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed by including each of the significant potential exposure variables from univariate analysis using a forward-stepping process.

Results: Care recipients with health and lifestyle issues were at almost two times increased risk for PD (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] =1.74 and 95% confidence interval [CI] - 1.52-2.00), and those with self-development issues were almost 2.5 times more likely to have PD (AOR = 2.44 and 95% CI - 2.12-2.79). Those who reported emotional statuses of feeling worried, lost, incapable, lonely, and distrusting were at 21.4, 3.5, 26.3, 37.9, and 4.7 times higher odds of having PD, respectively.

Conclusions: Isolating the risk factors associated with PD will help tailor the mental health promotion provided by YS to at-risk groups.