Srinagar: Mental Health Day was observed on October 10 when decades of Indian state terrorism has taken a physical and mental toll on the people of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
According to a research report compiled by France-based international humanitarian medical non-governmental organization, Doctors Without Borders, said that nearly 1.8 million Kashmiris or nearly half of all adults, have some form of mental disorder. Doctors Without Borders estimated after surveying 5,600 households in 2015 while the number is believed to be much higher months of siege and back-to-back cordon and search operations after August 2019 when Indian revoked Kashmir’s special status. Doctors Without Borders survey found that “45% of IIOJK’s total population show significant symptoms of mental distress.
World Mental Health Day was observed for the first time on 10 October 1992. It was started as an annual activity of the World Federation for Mental Health by the then Deputy Secretary General of UNO Richard Hunter. The day is officially commemorated every year on October 10th.
Kashmir, the report said, is witnessing a massive rise in symptoms of psychological distress due to brutal Indian militarization. A survey by Geneva-based Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) and Srinagar-based Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (IMHANS) said, mental health crisis has reached the proportions of an epidemic in IIOJK.
As per report, Kashmir is witnessing an alarming increase in instances of depression, anxiety and psychotic disorders since 5 Aug 2019. Majority of Kashmiris who are pellet victims are now suffering from depressive and panic disorders
The only way to lessen the physical as well as mental pain of the Kashmiris is to find a just resolution of the Kashmir dispute, the report suggested. Web Desk
