title: A Positive Psychology Intervention in a Hindu Community: The Pilot Study of the Hero Lab Curriculum.
abstract: India has high rates of mental health issues among its youth and low-income communities experience a disproportionate amount of depression and suicide. Positive psychology, the act of promoting well-being, could be used as a tool to promote wellness and help improve the mental health of youth living in slum areas of India. A pilot positively psychology program, "The Hero Lab", was conducted in a migratory slum in Worli, Mumbai, with trained Hindu community leaders implementing the interventions toward at-risk Hindu youth. The curriculum's impact showed statistical improvement (p < 0.001) in happiness (General Happiness Scale from 11.24 ± 1.56 to 19.08 ± 3.32), grit (Grit Survey from 2.23 ± 0.34 to 3.24 ± 0.67), empathy (Toronto Empathy Questionnaire from 24.92 ± 3.27 to 41.96 ± 8.41), and gratitude (Gratitude Survey from 16.88 ± 3.47 to 27.98 ± 6.59). While a pilot study, the Hero Lab curriculum demonstrates that positive psychology interventions may be an important tool in improving mental health in at-risk children.
authors.affiliation: Medicine for the Greater Good, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 4940 Eastern Avenue, Mason F. Lord Building, Suite 339, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA.
authors.forename: Siddhi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sundar
authors.affiliation: Johns Hopkins Carey School of Business, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Adil
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Qureshi
authors.affiliation: Medicine for the Greater Good, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 4940 Eastern Avenue, Mason F. Lord Building, Suite 339, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA. panagis@jhmi.edu.
authors.forename: Panagis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Galiatsatos
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D002648:Child; D003479:Curriculum; D005260:Female; D006240:Happiness; D018596:Hinduism / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011203:Poverty / Q000523:psychology*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012069:Religion and Psychology
keywords: Hinduism; Mental health; Positive psychology