Maladjustment is the common

term used to describe an

inability to maintain a stable
relationship
or
adjust
to
changing environments.
Maladjustment
is
the
inability
by
individuals,
family, groups, community
or society to be in sync
with
other
individuals,
family, group, community
or society on differences
and conflict with sociopolitical
and
economic
reasons or ideologies.

The Maladjusted Person: Mental

illness, emotional instability, mental
disorders,
emotional
disorders,
psychological disorders
They denote conditions of tension and
nervousness
Characteristic features of
maladjustment are deviations in
feelings,
acting and
thinking

Causes
Causesof
ofMaladjustment
Maladjustment
Family
Family
Social causes
Social causes
Economic
Economic
causes
causes
Psychological
Psychological
causes
causes
Personal causes
Personal causes
School-related
School-related
causes
causes

Characteristics of Maladjusted
Characteristics of Maladjusted
Children
Children

Withdrawal, depression or self-injuries,

obsessions(mania),

school

rejection,

drug and substance abuse, destructive,

uncooperative and violent behaviours

The following manifestation

Fami
their relationship with other
ly

may

reflect

members of

the families:
(1)being rebellious against parents;
(2)staying out late or even absconding from
home;
(3)siblings rivalry,
(4)being indifferent to concerns from and
needs of their families.

School
The
following
behaviour
reflects
their
relationship with teachers and fellow pupils:
(1)Disregarding school disciplines resulting in
frequent violation of school regulations
despite counselling being provided, e.g. :
fighting and / or disrupting classes to the
extent that teaching cannot be conducted.
(2)Influencing other classmates to follow him
in breaking school regulations.
(3)Openly challenging school authorities and
insulting teachers .
(4)Very often, being apathetic(lazy) towards
school activities.

span.
(2)Long term experience of school failure
diminishes their confidence in new areas of
learning.
(3)The vicious(cruel) cycle between repeated
experience of failure and childrens low self
concept and confidence hinders them in further
academic achievement.
(4)Their academic attainment may not be
comparable to their intelligence and social
maturity.
(5)Their non-academic ability and achievement
may not be appreciated in their school
environment.
(6)Both of the children and their families have

(1)Being weak in self-control, some of

them exhibit impulsive behaviour such
as temper tantrums, use of foul
language, stealing or destruction. In
the other extreme, some may be
withdrawn, indifferent and isolating
themselves without any contact with
others.
(2)Involve with undesirable peers
resulting in truancy and / or delinquent
behaviour.
(3)Have low awareness of social norms

Help them adjust and integrate into their

immediate environments which include family
life, mainstream education, vocational training
or open employment.
Helping them to develop positive values and
behaviours.
It is certainly helpful if the education system,
their family situation and the unfavourable
factors in society can be improved.
Pupils can develop an awareness of their own
strengths and limitations as well as a realistic

In the school and residential settings, a

In the school and residential settings, a
balanced curriculum and a caring
balanced curriculum and a caring
environment can help children to
environment can help children to
improve their interpersonal relationship,
improve their interpersonal relationship,
enhance their self-image and motivate
enhance their self-image and motivate
learning
learning

Mental health includes our emotional,

psychological, and social well-being.
It affects how we think, feel, and act.
It also helps determine how we handle
stress, relate to others, and make choices.
Mental health is important at every stage of
life, from childhood and adolescence through
adulthood

According to WHO (World Health Organization), mental health

is "a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or
her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life,
can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a
contribution to his or her community". WHO stresses that
mental health "is not just the absence of mental disorder".

Mental Health is about:

How we feel about ourselves
How we feel about others
How

we

are

demands of life

able

to

meet

the

Characteristics of mentally
Characteristics of mentally
healthy individual
healthy individual

He knows himself well and is in a position to evaluate his

strengths and weaknesses.
He has adequate ability to make adjustments in the changed
circumstances and situations.
He is emotionally mature and stable as he is able to express his
emotions in a desirable way and exercise proper control over
them.

He is socially adjustable as he possesses an adequate

ability to get along well with himself and others.
His intellectual powers are adequately developed. He is
able to think independently and take proper decision at
the proper time.
He always lives in the world of reality rather than that of
imagination and fantasy.

He possesses enough courage and power of tolerance for facing

failures in life. He never repents and worries over his failures and
mistakes.
He feels quite safe and secure in his respective groups and
environment.
Although he tries to accomplish his work as nicely as possible yet
he does not prove to be an extremist by becoming a perfectionist.

He is free from undesirable mental disturbances, disorders,

conflicts, anxieties, frustrations, ailments and diseases.
He possesses desirable social and health habits. He is
regular and punctual in performing his duties and does not
suffer from forgetfulness.
He is self-confident and optimist. He does not exhibit undue
fear and anxiety for any new assigned task.

He has an adequate sex adjustment and does not suffer

from sex abnormalities or dissatisfaction.
He possesses an adequate philosophy
governs his conduct and activities.

of

life

that

He possesses socially desirable healthy interests and

aptitudes.
He leads a
recreation.

well-balanced

life

of

work,

rest

He is satisfied with his profession or occupation.

and

Symptoms
of
poor
mental
Symptoms
of
poor
mental
Emotionally unstable and
easily upset.
health
health
Apprehensive(anxious),

suspicious(doubtful)

and insecure.
Self-critical, empowered with a feeling of guilt.
Lacks self confidence and will power.
No adequate adjustment with the self and the
environment physical, social and professional.
Failure in setting a proper level o aspiration.
Suffers from frustrations, unresolved conflicts,
strains and stresses.

Symptoms
Symptomsof
ofpoor
poormental
mental
health
health

Lacks enduring power and tolerance.

Lacks decision-making ability.
Poor self-concept and achievement motivation.
Unrealistic attitude towards life and people.
Suffers from mental disturbances, disorders,
ailments and disease.
Always dissatisfied with his achievements and
tries to seek perfection in his or others work.
Lives in his own world of imagination and
fantasy.

Mental
health helps
in thehealth
development of a
Importance
of mental
wholesome, well-balanced and integrated
personality.
The individuals who enjoy good mental health
are
supposed
to
demonstrate
proper
emotional maturity in their behaviour.
Ones mental health helps one in becoming
sociable
and
establishing
proper
social
relationships in the society.
The individuals who enjoy sound mental
health are usually found to behave as a man of
integrity and character by following the ethical
standards of the society.
Proper mental health helps the individual in

The individuals
enjoy good
Importancewho
of mental
healthmental health
can strive well for the actualization of their
potentialities.
A mentally healthy individual is an adjusted
person.
Mental health helps the individual to strive
properly for the realization of the goals of his
life.
Mental health helps the individuals to develop
as well-balanced useful citizens who are
conscious not only of their rights but also of
their responsibilities.
Mental health helps an individual in protecting
him
against
abnormalities
of
behaviour,

Mental
Mentalhealth
healthhazards
hazardsininthe
theschool
school

Lack of friendliness on the part of teachers.

Undue
stress
competitions.

on

scholastic

and

other

Defective system of evaluation element of

subjectivity
and
unreliability

loss
of
confidence in the teachers marking.
Fear of failure resulting in tension.
Excess of home work.
Heavy curriculum and failure of the child to
cope with it.

The teachers should be mentally alert and

Role
of
stable to develop
alertness
and stability in the
Role
ofthe
theschool
school
students.
A teacher must have abundance of love for
children.
A teacher has to deal with a large number of
students having low and high power of
understanding. He may have to repeat his
lessons many a time for the sake of the less
intelligent and he should not be irritated in
doing so.
The inconsistent behaviour of the teacher
disturbs the mental attitude of the chills. The
teacher should not be moody and strange.
A teacher cannot afford to be an autocrat.

Role
of
the
school
Role
of
the
The individuality of the school
child should be
respected.
There should be close pupil-teacher contacts.
There should be healthy home and school
environment.
There should be a regular medical check up of
the students and follow up action taken to
safeguard the health of the students.
Properly planned co-curricular activities are
helpful in providing suitable opportunities to
the students to sublimate their instincts.
Curriculum should be in accordance with age,
ability and aptitude of the students.