Industrialization and Mental Health (An Ethno-Psychological Study)

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Industrialization has provided socio-economic development and employment opportunities through the establishment of various industries, but on the other hand, it has uprooted the tribal and non-tribal population and given rise to psychological tensions, anxieties and different kinds of mental health problems. Though, the symptoms of illness occur among all the communities but the mechanism to cope up with the existing situation differs from one group to another with varying perception, interpretations and behaviour pattern.

The present book, "Industrializati on and Mental Health an ethnopsychological study" by Dr. S. 1. Ahmad presents a comprehensive picture of the impact of industrialization on mental health of young and old age group of christian and non-christian tribals. It makes an attempt to provide a wider psychological perspective of the impact of industrialization which may help the policy makers, planners and researchers. Scholars engaged in the study of crosscultural psychology. medical anthropology and tribal mental health will also be greatly benefitted by this study.

The model of research design adopted in this book may help the students of psychology and allied discipline for exploring the impact of industrialization on various dimensions of the tribal's personality.

Dr.S.1. Ahmad (b. 1949) graduated with honours in Psychology from Patna University, obtained his Master's degree from the Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh; B.Ed. from the North Eastern Hill University, Shillong and Diploma in Medical and Social Psychology (DM&SP) from Central Institute of Psychiatry, Ranchi. He was awarded the degree of Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Ranchi, Bihar. He started his career as a "Field Investigator" in the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, New Delhi. Dr. Ahmad is associated with the Anthropological Survey of India since 1974 and at present holding the position of Senior Psychologist in its head quarters at Calcutta. He was also posted in the North-East Regional Centre, Shillong as a Psychologist from October 1983 to November 1990. He has carried out extensive field-work among the caste groups of Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar as well as among the tribal communities of Arunachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Meghalaya and Sikkim and published a number of research papers in Psychology as well as in other reputed social science journals. Dr. Ahmad was the State Co-ordinator as well as Editor of Arunachal Volume of the national project "People of India". Presently, he is associated as one of the co-ordinators of the national project "Development and Regionalism: anthropological, ecologial and psychological perspective". He has substantial experience in conducting and guiding research project in the field of mental health, clinical psychology, social psychology and anthropological / cross-cultural psychology.

Various multidimensional and multidisciplinary research studies are being encouraged and taken up by the Anthropological Survey of India. Besides physical and cultural anthropologists, scholars from the allied disciplines like human ecology, linguistics, folklore and psychology are working in this organisation. Our research publications and different survey reports are the outcome and result of the joint endeavour by professionals from various sub disciplines of social science. In this organisation, encouragement is given to the social scientists to publish their research outputs in their own respective disciplines.

The present book entitled, "Industrialization and Mental Health-an ethno-psychological study" deals with the mental health problems of the tribal community vis-a-vis industrialization. The sample of the study is composed of young and old Christian and non-Christian tribals living in and around the vicinity of an industrial complex, a section of who is employed in the industries. The parameters of religious affiliation and defined industrial/non-industrial situation have been set for a better understanding of problems.

No body can deny the importance of health. Health is realy wealth. When we talk of health, we mean both physical as well as mental health. The Director General of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Dr. Mehlar, in one of his deliberations to world health assembly clearly stated, "It is true that health is not everything but it is also true that without it, the rest is nothing". In order to provide minimum basic health facilities, it was decided by the Health Assembly of the WHO to launch a movement known as 'Health for All by the year 2000 A.D'. In 1978, the Alma Acta conference reaffirmed 'Health for All' as the major social goal of all governments. In 1981, a global strategy for this programme was adopted by the WHO which was later endorsed by the United Nations Central Assembly. India is a signatory to those declarations and has made efforts to extend health facilities to the vulnerable sections of its society. Health for All has been defined as an attainment of a level of health that will enable every individual to lead a socially and economically productive life (Government of India, 1981). All the nations of the World, unanimously, wholeheartedly support the noble objective of "Health for All by 2000 A.D." To achieve the goal, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India convened a national conference to discuss national strategies and action plan. The Planning Commission appointed a working group on 'Health for All' to suggest and monitor the progress of this programme on a regular basis.

**Contents and Sample Pages**