Conclusions

This study provides preliminary evidence supporting the acceptability, content validity, and cultural relevance of the Manohari module as a life skills development package for adolescents in Sri Lanka. The positive evaluations from experts and adolescents highlight its potential for implementation as a school-based intervention. However, several areas for refinement were identified, including the need for improved developmental targeting and greater contextual adaptation to address adolescent-specific challenges. Furthermore, the module should be clearly positioned as a preventive and promotive tool rather than a component of clinical mental health care.

Future research should focus on validating the Manohari module with larger and more diverse panels of experts and adolescent participants, followed by pilot implementation and outcome evaluation to assess its effectiveness in improving adolescent mental health and life skills, as well as to inform its integration into existing educational and public health systems.