ANUMATI 2.0: Adolescent resilience-building in urban slums – A multifaceted implementation trial of life skills education in India

Background 

• Adolescence is a period of rapid physical, mental and social change that can be stressful, and which might have an adverse impact on the mental wellbeing of adolescents. 
• Stress and depression in young people are highly correlated with other non-communicable disease (NCD) risk factors such as smoking, alcohol and substance use and physical activity. 
• Adolescents, especially older ones (15-19 years) experience many key transitions such as developing intimate relationships with peers and increasing responsibility in decision-making. Successfully navigating these transitions can reduce stress and NCD risk factors and have a lasting impact on the quality of life right into adulthood. 

Aim 

• To evaluate the feasibility, clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of two community-based implementation strategies for life skills education among older adolescents with or at high risk of depression.

Research Methodology

• A life skills education program will be developed to promote physical activity and mental wellbeing and reduce risky behaviours such as alcohol consumption and smoking. 
• ANUMATI 2.0 has been designed as a three-arm cluster randomised controlled trial that will be implemented in urban slums of New Delhi and Hyderabad/ Secunderabad in India. 
• Arm 1 will receive the life skills education program delivered in-person by trained facilitators, Arm 2 will receive the life-skills education through social media, and Arm 3 will be provided with enhanced usual care (EUC).