savitribai phule national institute of women and child development

ADOLESCENT GUIDANCE SERVICE CENTRE

Working Towards Providing Comprehensive Mental Health Services for the Development of Competent and Resilient Adolescents

Adolescence is a crucial period for personal and socio-cultural development, often marked by identity formation and experimentation. The Adolescent Guidance Service Centre (AGSC), established in 2001, aims to support adolescents in navigating this phase. AGSC provides counseling and psycho-social care through a comprehensive program, employing a dual strategy. Professionals conduct preventive activities in communities and schools, while also offering evidence-based diagnostic assessments at the center. This holistic approach addresses developmental challenges and promotes resilience among adolescents, fostering healthy psychosocial development.

Mission :

Provide comprehensive mental health services for the development of competent and resilient adolescents.

Policy :

The Centre provides assessment and intervention services to adolescents (12-18 years of age) and families on a first come first serve basis. The services are available to all genders and social classes. Comprehensive services along evidence-based parameters are provided by a multi-disciplinary team.

Objectives :

To conduct contextual promotive/ preventive activities for development of life skills, family life education and career planning with adolescents and the stakeholders.
To identify and assess mental health issues in adolescents through a multidisciplinary team.
To provide comprehensive diagnostic assessment, counseling, and psychosocial support to adolescents and their families.

Approach :

To ensure accessibility of services and avoid the stigma attached to access services, AGSC adopts a two-fold strategy towards the delivery of counselling & psychosocial interventions for adolescents.
It develops need-based promotive/preventive programmes in collaboration with the key stakeholders in schools and setting that are accessible to adolescents.
It has a 'walk-in' counseling and Guidance service for adolescents to at its 'Adolescent Guidance Service Centre' at the Institute.

Services :

Adolescent Guidance Service Centre offers to young adults falling within the age range of 12 to 19 years, comprehensive diagnostic and counseling services by a qualified team of professionals, comprising counselors, clinical psychologists, social workers, and psychiatrists. The adolescents who have specific difficulties in learning and behaviour or who have mental health problems like anxiety, depression, examination stress etc. can approach the Centre for assessment and counselling.