INFORMATION LITERACY: ITS RELEVANCE TO YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

Authors

  • Udena Ruwindu Attygalle Colombo South Teaching Hospital, Kalubowila, Sri Lanka

Keywords:

Adolescents, Developing Countries, Mental Health, Information literacy

Abstract

Information literacy is an overarching concept that incorporates many of the diverse literacy areas important for adolescent mental health. Adolescents are in a sensitive stage in their development, where they are susceptible to the possible emotional and cognitive adverse effects of the huge amount of information they have to deal with. For them, the ability to access the most useful information, critically evaluate it, reflect on it and being able to use it for the benefit of oneself and others is vital. As adolescents in developing countries are being rapidly exposed to information from various types of social media and ways of living that require the abilities described in information literacy, looking at teaching these skills in formal and informal ways is important.

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Published

2021-07-21
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