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| ORIGINAL ARTICLE |
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| Year : 2014 | Volume
: 2
| Issue : 2 | Page : 42-46 |
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The effect of a holistic mental health enhancement program on the level of the academic performance of adolescences
Piyush Pravinchandra Trivedi
Department of Clinical Psychology, Dev Sanskriti University, Haridwar, Uttarakhand, India
| Date of Web Publication | 22-Jun-2015 |
Correspondence Address:
Piyush Pravinchandra Trivedi
Department of Clinical Psychology, Dev Sanskriti University, Haridwar - 249 411, Uttarakhand
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/2347-5633.159127
Background: Mental health is an important component of the overall health of any individual. In pre-research education programs, it was found that majority of high school students are anxious about their academic performance. They want to improve their academic performance. Some students asked for increasing mental capabilities like memory, intelligence, attention, etc. Teachers are also anxious about the performance of the students. Some complained about the adjustment problems among students. They are also anxious about the health of many students with low immunity. Aim: This study aims to determine the role of an integrated package of Yoga, Βyurveda, Yajρopethî, and applied Indian philosophy. Materials and Methods: A review of various Indian literatures was done and was compared with various scientific studies regarding academic performance. Internal evaluation system of the school was used for the measurement of academic performance. Results: Results show that there is an extreme significance difference in before and after values of experimental group. There is also an extreme significance difference in after values of experimental and control group. This proves that there is a positive effect of the experiment. But there is a significance difference in before and after values of control group also. This shows that not only the experiment but also some other factors are affecting the academic performance of the students. This may be due to the heterogeneity of school tests' scores. Conclusion: The package nourished the brains of the students. Breathe control and Yajña did purification of their brains. This resulted into the improvement of mental capacities. This improvement affected the improvement of the academic performance. Keywords: Academic performance, adolescences, ancient Indian literature-based intervention, holistic mental health enhancement program
How to cite this article:
Trivedi PP. The effect of a holistic mental health enhancement program on the level of the academic performance of adolescences. Int J Yoga - Philosop Psychol Parapsychol 2014;2:42-6 |
How to cite this URL:
Trivedi PP. The effect of a holistic mental health enhancement program on the level of the academic performance of adolescences. Int J Yoga - Philosop Psychol Parapsychol [serial online] 2014 [cited 2023 Jun 10];2:42-6. Available from: https://www.ijoyppp.org/text.asp?2014/2/2/42/159127 |
| Introduction | |  |
Mental health is not just the absence of mental disorders. It is defined as a state of well-being in which every individual realizes his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community. This definition by WHO clears the need of mental health enhancement and not just establishing new mental hospitals.
As Yoga, Βyurveda, and philosophy are three different fields; majority of researchers chose only one field. But, all these three fields of Ancient Indian Literature together can open new dimensions in the area of mental health enhancement.
Mental health is an important component of the overall health of any individual. This was long recognized in ancient India, where in addition to the medical dimension, philosophical, religious, moral and ethical dimensions shaped and provided the ground for normal mental health and contributed to an integrated healing and welfare system for mental illness. The Vedic times provided a broadly conceptualized model of mental health and illness, supported by an ethos of nurturance, support, caring, and family responsibility in treatment and rehabilitation of these mental disorders. [1]
| Materials and methods | | |
On the basis of review of literature, the following problem is explored.
Problem
Effect of holistic mental health enhancement program modules on the level of academic performance of adolescences.
Hypothesis
There is no significant difference between the before and after values of level of academic performance of adolescences.
Sample size
In total, 48 adolescents of age group 14-18 were taken for the purpose of the study. Of which 24 were in control group and 24 were in experimental group. All adolescences were of 11 th standard. The sample was selected by simple random sampling from Gayatri Vidyapeeth, Haridwar. Afford was made to match the two groups of sample in terms of their level of education and their residential locality.
Sampling method
Simple random sampling.
Dependent variable
Academic performance.
Academic achievement or (academic) performance is the outcome of education the extent to which a student, teacher or institution has achieved their educational goals. Individual differences in academic performance have been linked to differences in intelligence and personality. [2]
Students, parents, teachers, school administration, and public at large are always trying for improvement in academic achievement of the students. This improvement is also dependent of all above stakeholders. Holistic approach of mental health enhancement is useful to all these stakeholders because it is regarding the general health of individual as well as the general health of the society.
Independent variable
Holistic mental health enhancement program module.
The module was divided into two categories.
- Presentations only
- Presentations + practices.
Presentations
One presentation on Aṣṭβṁga Yoga
Yama (restraint)
Of these the restraints are: Abstinence from injury (Ahiṁsβ); veracity; abstinence from theft; continence; abstinence from avariciousness.
When a student tells a lie, his/her mind gets disturbed. To make it secret, he/she gives extra stress to the mind. Thus, telling a lie is injuries to mental health. One who wants to enhance his/her mental health should follow the rules of veracity.
Violence is more harmful to the mind of the student who is violent than the victim who suffers with the attack. It is a symbol of disturbed mind. Nonviolent students can change the mind of violent ones. The presence of such students among the community is a matter of proud.
Student who steals others stuffs, other students notes or other students intellectual property is considered as a disturbed mind. He or she gives extra stress to the mind.
Possession of stuffs more than the daily needs is considered as major stressors. Maintenance of these stuffs increases student's stress level.
The importance of Brahmacarya in student life is freely discussed in many books of modern times. In ancient times, the student life itself was called Brahmacaryashram. Brahmacarya was the most important rule to be followed. Now a day, many of adolescence's problems are due to lack of knowledge and misleading facts in this area. Ancient Indian Literature strongly supports the principle of Brahmacarya.
Niyama (observance) [3]
The observances are cleanliness, contentment, purificatory action, study and the making of the Lord the motive of all action. [4]
Cleanliness is of two types: Internal and external. Both are important in student life. Internal cleanliness can be through Satsaṁga or counseling. External can be through proper bathing, yogic cleansing processes, etc.
It is said that all mental disorders are due to the excessive desire for sensual pleasures and materialist approach of the modern world. A student who is satisfied with his/her situation can have a good mental health. A student who is not satisfied with his/her situation may become abnormal very easily.
The penance in student life is something about the bearing of difficulties faced in regular study. Like many students do not continue following instructions accurately after some days in initial period of intervention. Such students cannot bear difficulties in maintaining regularity and punctuality. They do not get good results. Penance is must for achieving expected targets.
According to Mβhβraṣi Vyβsa, two practices are integrated in Svβdhyβya. One is to read spiritual scriptures, and another is Om Chanting. Both together is called svβdhyβya. These are two bases for increasing Sattva Guna, which is very much important for mental health. Svβdhyβya tells us about the goal of student life and ways to achieve the target. It teaches us about healing techniques, ways to solve our day to day problems, enhancing our mental capabilities and to prevent disorders as well. Om chanting helps in concentrating our mind in study.
The experience of our sages suggests that if we keep continue in our mind that Almighty God is there to help me out we can face difficulties very easily. It is also a very nice remedy when we are hyperactive and very much anxious about fruits of our actions. It helps our mind to calm down and leave the rest for the God. When we are less active, it helps in a different way. At that time, we have to think about the law of Karma. Law of Karma is the perfect system even for those who are not deists. Deists think about the punishment of God and can become active.
Βsana (Posture) [5]
Posture is what provides firmness and comfort.
Modern researches suggest that postures like ?irṣβϊana etc., are very much useful to the students. ?irṣβϊana provides adequate blood supply to the mind. Hence supply nutrition to the brain.
Prβṇβyβma
Merely in consequences of practice in restraint of breath, the central organ becomes fit for fixed attention or he gains stability by expulsion and retention of breath. [6] Thus, the stability of mind can be achieved through Prβṇβyβma.
Pratyβhβra (withdrawal of the senses) [7]
Abstraction (Pratyβhβra) is that by which the senses do not come into contact with their objects and follow as-it-were the nature of the mind. Students who are addicted to TV, video game etc., are less active in the study. The practice of Pratyβhβra may become useful to such students.
Dhβraṇβ (fixed attention) [8]
Binding the mind-stuff to a place is fixed attention. There are many techniques of Dharna in yogic scriptures. Trβṭaka is one among the most popular practices of various student communities.
Dhyβna (meditation) [9]
Meditation is the continuation of the cognition therein. In many schools, students are asked to do meditation. Actually, it is not meditation. It can be a technique of fixed attention. Meditation is a stage of mind. Very few students can reach this stage.
Samβdhξ (trance) [10]
The same when shining with the light of the object alone, and devoid, as-it-were, of itself, is trance (or contemplation, Samβdhξ). The concept of Samβdhξ is difficult to understand. Students are only informed about Samβdhξ as the last stage of yoga practice. By knowing about the higher state of mind, students can feel easier in achieving middle levels.
One presentation on stambh
are three Stambh (pillars) of health. Vβta, Pitta, and Kapha. The role of three Dosas (body constituents-humours) Vat-Pit-Kapha in mental health is one of contemporary topics of scientific researches in Βyurveda. This concept is a unique gift of Βyurveda to the modern psychology. If we explain students about the role of monitoring and balancing of these Dosas, it will be a great help in the prevention as well as in intervention of mental health problems in students.
presentation on upsthambha
are three Upstambhas (sub pillars). Βhβra (diet), Nidrβ (sleep), and Brahmacarya (celibacy). Importance of food on mental health can be discussed here. Nidrβ is also an important factor of mental health. Inadequate sleep may lead to dysfunctions of mind. While excessive sleep is also harmful. General health perspectives of celibacy can be discussed here.
presentation on Indian psychology
perspectives of mind, mental health, mental disorders etc., can be discussed here. Indian psychology provides information about the root causes of modern mental disorders. It also shows the path to become normal from abnormal and extra normal from normal.
Presentations + practices
One presentation + practice of Prβṇβyβma
βṇβyβma is one of the most important practices for enhancing mental health. Many a times, it was observed that ten minutes session of Brβhmarξ and Anuloma Viloma Prβṇβyβma made students calm and more attentive.
presentation + practice of Yajρa
presentation on the effect of Yajρa on mental health was delivered. Dried leaves of Indian Shankhpushpi (Convolvulus pluricaulis) along with cow dung and cow ghee used in yajρa. Exposure to Yajρa along with a presentation (to show its importance in mental health) was found more useful than presentation alone.
presentation + oral intake of BrβhmaRasβyana
were inspired for oral intake of BrβhmaRasayana. A presentation to show its importance in mental health enhancement was delivered.
Research design
Before after design with one control group was used.
Tools used
To measure the level of academic improvement, scores of tests were taken for consideration. Improvement before the experiment and improvement after the experiment compared for both experimental and control groups.
| Results | | |
Thus, the hypothesis has been rejected, and the level of efficacy found.
| Conclusion | | |
The academic achievement of the student is the center of the student life and is the most important issue of modern education system. The level of academic achievement is affected by many visible and nonvisible factors. Subject knowledge is also a major factor. The experiment was done with the maximum effort of controlling extraneous variables. However this is just a beginning, future works may greatly check the efficacy of the developed modules. Thus it can be said that not the package containing only yoga or only Ayurveda alone but a holistic package of the integration of Yoga, Ayurveda and Indian Philosophy can have a better effect on academic performance of adolescences.
| References | | |
| 1. | Nagraja D, Murti P. Mental Health Care and Human Rights. New Delhi: National Human Rights Commission; 2008.  |
| 2. | Von Stumm S, Benedikt H, Chamorro-Premuzic T. The Hungry Mind: Intellectual Curiosity Is the Third Pillar of Academic Performance. Perspect Psychol Sci 2011;6:574-88. [Last retrieved on 2012 Feb 11]. |
| 3. | Baba B. Yogasutra Pataṁjali with the commentary of Vyasa. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass Publishers; 2005. |
| 4. | Prasada R. The Pataṁjali′s Yog Sutras′. Delhi: Divine Books; 2011. |
| 5. | Baba B. Yogasutra Pataṁjali with the commentary of Vyasa. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass Publishers; 2005. |
| 6. | Woods JH. The yoga-system of Pataṁjali. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidas; 2007. |
| 7. | Woods JH. The yoga-system of Pataṁjali. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidas; 2007. |
| 8. | Woods JH. The yoga-system of Pataṁjali. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidas; 2007. |
| 9. | Baba B. Yogasutra Pataṁjali with the commentary of Vyasa. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass Publishers; 2005. |
| 10. | Prasada R. The Pataṁjali′s Yog Sutras′. Delhi: Divine Books; 2011. |
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