Unravelling the Mental Health Triggers in Young Men (15-24 years) Living in Delhi's Slums

Youth aged 15 to 24 years represent nearly one-fifth (19.1%) of India's total population. In India's slums, mental health issues are increasingly concerning due to harsh living conditions and socio-economic challenges. Young men aged 15-24 living in these environments often experience stress due to factors such as poverty, overcrowding, unemployment, and exposure to crime. Study aims to assess the prevalence and determinants of mental health among youth in Delhi's slum areas. The study used cross-sectional primary data collected (in 2021–2022) using a multistage sampling procedure from the youth age 15 to 24 years (male) living in different slums of Delhi. A total of 517 youth was surveyed. A Semi-structured interview schedule along with WHO-GHQ-12 tool were used as a screening tool of distress: depression, anxiety, social impairment and hypochondria. GHQ-12-questionnaire was scored based on Likert scale. Higher score indicates a greater degree of psychological distress. Descriptive statistics, Chi square test and ordered logistic regression were employed to analyse the mental health disorders. Reliability of the GHQ-12 was evaluated, yielding a score of 0.93. Findings reveal that over half of the youth experienced moderate (37.52%) to severe (35.98%) mental health disorders. Those aged 18-20 and 21-24 were twice as likely to suffer from severe mental health issues compared to those aged 15-17. Additionally, youth with primary, secondary, and higher education were more likely to experience severe mental disorders than those without education. Parental tobacco and alcohol use were also significantly associated with severe mental health issues. Key determinants included age, caste, education, work status, and parental substance use. To address these challenges, strategies must focus on improving access to mental health services, raising community awareness, and integrating mental health education into schools alongwith involving parents and communities to build resilience and improve mental health outcomes for young people in slums.