This handbook provides a comprehensive overview of youth development, including theories and applications across different countries, namely India, the UK, and Australia. It presents the status of youth and their role in society, their education, and their career perspectives. The focus is on developing youth's internal abilities by providing a creative and supportive environment through appropriate mentorship and encouragement. It discusses a wide range of contemporary and relevant issues relating to holistic career growth of youth, whereby youth work is recognized as a profession. Academicians from various disciplinary backgrounds offer conceptual and methodological perspectives. Chapters into five themes focus on a balance between developing stable, protective factors for mental health, and positive youth development to ensure appropriate cognitive, social, emotional, and behavioral skills needed to thrive in an evolving world. It discusses the status of the youth in terms of digital competency, engagement of youth in sports, teaching, political process, and community development activities in the present and rapidly altering world scenario. The book also discusses the role of institution-based family counseling for healthy youth development. Given its comprehensive coverage, the handbook is an essential resource for a broad audience of youth researchers, practitioners and policymakers of population sciences, childhood and youth studies, development studies, and psychology.

Auteur

Sibnath Deb, PhD, DSc, is a Professor of the Department of Applied Psychology at Pondicherry University (A Central University). He served the Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth Development (An Institute of National Importance), Government of India, as Director from Jan 8, 2020, to June 30, 2023. He is also an Adjunct Professor at the School of Justice, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Australia and Member Board of Directors, Institute for School-based Family Counselling, California, USA. From 2004 to 2008, he served the International Society for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (ISPCAN) as a Council Member. He has produced 22 PhDs, published 22 books (by Sage, Springer, Routledge, PEARSON, and so on), and more than 100 research articles. His research interests include child safety, students' mental health, youth development, adolescent reproductive health, family relationships and child protection. In recognition of his academic and research contribution, Prof. Deb has received many national and international awards, including "The Visitor's Award 2019" for his significant contribution to research from the Honourable President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind.

Shayana Deb holds an MSc in Behavioural Science from the CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Bengaluru, India. Currently, she is doing a second Master's Degree in Youth Policy from the University of Groningen, The Netherlands. She did her undergraduate with a triple major, i.e., Biotechnology, Chemistry and Botany. She has a special interest in child protection and youth development. She volunteered in three research projects which developed her interest in child welfare and well-being and positive youth development.