Srinagar, April 14, 2022 (PPI-OT):In Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, with the Covid-19 threats finally subsiding, a new report has revealed that the Coronavirus pandemic has left scores of Kashmiris in the grip of worsening mental health issues in the valley with 16 percent of adolescents battling depression.

The report, authored by four doctors – Asif Jeelani, Sabira Aalia Dkhar, Ruqia Quansar and S. M. Salim Khan from GMC Srinagar’s Department of Community Medicine is based on the prevalence of depression and anxiety among school-going adolescents in Kashmir valley during Covid-19 pandemic.

As per the research, the overall prevalence of depression among adolescents in Kashmir was recorded at 16 percent and was associated with a past history of Covid infection.

“The prevalence ranged from 14.5 percent in adolescent boys to 18 percent for girls. The highest mean score achieved in the PHQ-9A scale was obtained for question-related to sleep disruption (question no 3), whereas the question related to self-harm had the lowest mean score (question no 9).” reveals the research.

Besides depression, the research has also noted that 20 percent of adolescents in Kashmir were battling anxiety. “The prevalence was 14 percent for boys and 27.5 percent for girls. On logistic regression, anxiety was associated with female gender, past history of personal COVID-19 infection, history of COVID-19 diagnosis in family and hospital admission due to COVID-19 in family,” reads the report.

Anxiety and depression, the research revealed, are major public health problems among adolescents. “The high burden estimated in our study highlights the need for immediate action to support adolescents particularly those with a self/family history of COVID-19.” The researchers reveal.

It is pertinent to mention here that the report has also brought into fore that before the start of the pandemic, these adolescents, on an average were spending two hours on internet, however, after the pandemic the median of hours per day had significantly increased to 4 hours per day.

For more information, contact:
Kashmir Media Service
Phone: +92-51-4435548, +92-51-4435549
Fax: +92-51-4861736
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.kmsnews.org