Abstract
Adolescence is a critical stage in human physical, mental, and emotional growth, and each has to embrace different problems as they enter adults. Adolescents stand out as one of the most vulnerable categories. Moreover, tribal adolescents stand out as a particularly neglected and underserved group, dealing with various difficulties that contribute to a burdensome effect on their mental health. The quantitative research method was used, and the experimental pre-post control design was adopted. The purposive sampling technique was employed, and a questionnaire survey method (DASS-21 scale) was used as the research tool. The results showed that there is a significant correlation at the 0.05 level. It showed a relationship between family debt, the income of the family, stress, anxiety, and depression. The t-test showed a significant decrease. In stress, the mean pre-test score was 22.53, but their mean post-test score was considerably reduced to 15.10 (t = 5.055, p<.001). The mean pre-test score in anxiety was 12.82, notably reduced to 8.93 in the post-test (t = 6.948, p<.001). Further, in depression, the mean pre-test score was 12.80, a considerable decrease from the mean post-test score of 10.97 (t = 4.195, p<.001). In light of the results, it was suggested that tribal schools employ a licensed professional counsellor to assist teenagers with their emotional problems. It also emphasizes the collaborative approach among stakeholders, including mental health professionals, educators, policymakers, parents, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and community leaders. Further, the study prioritizes mental health initiatives tailored to the unique needs of tribal adolescents.
Keywords: Anxiety, Depression, Mental Health, Positive Psychology, Stress, Tribal Adolescents.