The Psychosocial Challenges among Youngsters Inhabiting In the Slums of Kolkata
Main Article Content
Abstract
The slums of Kolkata, like many urban slums worldwide, are characterized by overcrowded living conditions, inadequate access to basic amenities, and economic precarity. Within these marginalized communities, one of the most vulnerable groups is the youngsters, aged 10 to 24, who are navigating the critical phases of adolescence and young adulthood. These youngsters represent the city's future, yet they grapple with a myriad of interconnected psychosocial challenges that threaten their well-being and life prospects. The qualitative research methodology will be employed to comprehensively explore and understand the psychological challenges faced by youngsters inhabiting in the slums of Kolkata. Qualitative research methods emphasize capturing rich data that helps in uncovering the underlying nuances of the problem. The insights gained from this study will contribute to address the disparities in psychosocial challenges among youngsters inhabiting the slums of Kolkata is essential not only for their individual growth and happiness but also for the overall social and economic development of the city of Kolkata. In addressing these disparities, it is essential to recognize the resilience, strength, and potential of the youngsters inhabiting Kolkata's slums. They possess aspirations, dreams, and talents that, when nurtured and supported, can lead to positive transformation not only in their individual lives but also in the broader community. Ultimately, the disparities in psychosocial challenges among youngsters in Kolkata's slums are not insurmountable. With concerted efforts, resources, and a commitment to social justice, it is possible to pave the way for a brighter and more equitable future for these resilient young individuals, fostering a city that values and uplifts all its residents, regardless of their socio-economic background.
Metrics
Article Details

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
References
• Basu, G., Biswas, S., Pisudde, P., & Mondal, R. (2021). Sociodemographic and psychosocial correlates of substance abuse among street children: A cross-sectional survey in the streets of Kolkata, West Bengal. Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care, 10(6), 2259.
• Bolton, P., Surkan, P. J., Gray, A. E., & Desmousseaux, M. (2012). The mental health and psychosocial effects of organized violence: A qualitative study in northern Haiti. Transcultural Psychiatry, 49(4), 590–612. https://doi.org/10.1177/1363461511433945
• Brinkmeyer, M. Y., & Eyberg, S. M. (2003). Parent-child interaction therapy for oppositional children. In Evidence-based psychotherapies for children and adolescents. (pp. 204–223).
• Brinkmeyer, Mary Y.: U Florida, Dept of Clinical & Health Psychology, Gainesville, FL, US: The Guilford Press.
• Burkey, M. D., Hosein, M., Morton, I., Purgato, M., Adi, A., Kurzrok, M., … Tol, W. A. (2018). Psychosocial interventions for disruptive behavior problems in children in low- and middleincome countries: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry and Allied Disciplines, 59(9), 982–993. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.12894
• Das, M., Angeli, F., Krumeich, A. J., & Van Schayck, O. C. (2018). The gendered experience with respect to health-seeking behaviour in an urban slum of Kolkata, India. International journal for equity in health, 17(1), 1-14.
• Dawson, K. S., Bryant, R. A., Harper, M., Kuowei Tay, A., Rahman, A., Schafer, A., & van Ommeren, M. (2015). Problem Management Plus (PM+): a WHO transdiagnostic psychological intervention for common mental health problems. World Psychiatry, 14(3), 354–357. https://doi.org/10.1002/wps.20255
• Dorsey, S., Lucid, L., Martin, P., King, K. M., O’Donnell, K., Murray, L. K., … Whetten, K. (2020). Effectiveness of Task-Shifted Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Children Who Experienced Parental Death and Posttraumatic Stress in Kenya and Tanzania: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2019.4475
• Duarte, C., Hoven, C., Berganza, C., Bordin, I., Bird, H., & Miranda, C. T. (2003). Child mental health in Latin America: present and future epidemiologic research. International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine, 33(3), 203–222. https://doi.org/10.2190/4WJB-BW16-2TGE-565W
• Ghosh, A., & Mukhopadhyay, S. (2021). Influence of living arrangements on the psychological health of older women in slums.
• Kohrt, B. A., Rasmussen, A., Kaiser, B. N., Haroz, E. E., Maharjan, S. M., Mutamba, B. B., … Hinton, D. E. (2014). Cultural concepts of distress and psychiatric disorders: Literature review and research recommendations for global mental health epidemiology. International Journal of Epidemiology, 43(2), 365–406. https://doi.org/10.1093/ije/dyt227
• Roy, S. (2020). Quality of living, health and well-being of slum dwelling women domestic workers in Kolkata. Urban Health Risk and Resilience in Asian Cities, 271-292.
• Sulkers, E., & Loos, J. (2022). Life satisfaction among the poorest of the poor: A study in urban slum communities in India. Psychological Studies, 67(3), 281-293.