Anand: A Proposed Positive Psychology Intervention-Based Program for Secondary Education Students in India to Reduce Youth Suicidal Rate

Abstract

The following essay proposes establishing a positive psychology-based intervention program, Anand, for secondary education students in India. Named for the Hindi word for “happiness”, this program seeks to aid Indian youth, who struggle to cope with the rigor and competitiveness of academia within the Indian education system. The nature of the Indian education system prompts a variety of mental health struggles for the youth, which may lead to suicidal ideation in response to their psychological distress. This intervention aims to enhance their coping mechanisms with academic stress and enables them to boost their mental well-being despite the pressures of their educational and personal lives. This program would be tailored within the academic curriculum and be taught along with the primary subjects in a classroom setting. The core components of this mission would be the classic concepts of positive psychology such as the PERMA model (Positivity, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, and Accomplishment), character strengths, boosting self-esteem and positive self-image, learned hopefulness, and manifestation through intention. The program would be divided into chunks, each focusing on a different concept for students to learn. Students would be encouraged to complete exercises within the curriculum to breed familiarity with positive psychology. The entire purpose is to help the youth flourish through personal and professional challenges and build resilience against triggers of stress and anxiety in their academic journey. This essay refers to the successful implementation of positive psychology interventions in educational settings, which have elicited the desired results in the past. The establishment of these interventions incorporated within the basic academic curriculum can boost the overall emotional and mental well-being, improving their capabilities in dealing with academia-induced stress and in turn, reducing the youth suicide rate.