Srinagar, 11 Oct 2023:A notable prevalence of mental health issues in the Kashmir Valley has been reported by Valley-based doctors in interviews provided to Kashmir Media Service (KMS). Factors contributing to the heightened mental health challenges in the region include the long-standing conflict in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, economic struggles, and specific climatic conditions.

Dr Mansoor Ahmad, Head of Psychiatry at Govt Medical College Islamabad, emphasized the vital role of the community in identifying and responding to signs of mental distress. Dr Zoya Mir, a clinical psychologist, highlighted the urgent mental health issues faced by adolescents and young adults, pointing to academic decline, social isolation, and issues like anxiety, depression, and substance abuse as prevalent concerns. Dr Javaid Ahmad, a psychiatrist at District Hospital Shopian, spotlighted the occurrence of mental health disorders during challenging times and stressed the importance of collective efforts to battle the associated stigma, raise awareness, and promote timely treatment-seeking behaviour.

Doctors are urging a compassionate approach toward mental health patients, creating supportive living conditions and environments to foster healthy lifestyles and mitigate the pervasive mental health issues witnessed in the region. A report by the Research Section of Kashmir Media Service indicated that the number of mental patients has surpassed one hundred thousand, a number that has seen a significant increase following strict military sequester imposed by the Indian government since August 05 of the previous year.