12 May 2014 Murali Krishnan SRINAGAR : India's health experts are reporting a surge in the number of people seeking treatment for mental health issues in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Years of separatist-related violence in the region have taken a toll on residents, with many people suffering from mental health disorders as a result. On any given day, hundreds of people line up at the dilapidated Rainawari Psychiatric Hospital in Kashmir's summer capital, Srinagar. It is one of the few facilities in the region that offers treatment for mental health disorders. To offset the rush, the Indian government recently opened another counselling centre at the Shri Maharaja Hari Singh (SMHS) Hospital, which is equally populated. Majid Shafi, a doctor at SMHS, listens to young patients scarred by the region's conflict. Dr Shafi says most patients suffer from depression, chronic post-traumatic stress disorder, drug addiction and suicidal tendencies in numbers that are shockingly high. "The prevailing situation over the last two decades is contributing to psychiatric disorders," he said. "In the early 90's, we had about 2,000 patients visit us in our psychiatric diseases hospital. "Currently we are having more than 100,000 visitors per year. The patients that we see are just the tip of the iceberg." Mental health ailments have emerged as one of the most pressing public health concerns in Kashmir. One of Kashmir Valley's leading psychiatrists, Arshad Hussain, says mental health issues in the region are coming to the fore as awareness of psychiatric help grows. "When we had a huge mental morbidity particularly post-traumatic stress, all of them did not come to psychiatrists," he said. "Much of that mental health morbidity went to faith-healing and spiritual places in Kashmir. "But now psychiatry and shrinks have become a reality in Kashmir and I see mental health issues increasing with time rather than decreasing." Shutdowns and frequent curfews in the Valley have also affected locals psychologically. Doctors say the true story of those suffering from trauma or anxiety-related disorders is hard to understand. Difficult to access Remote villages have been bearing the brunt of regional violence for years on end, and many who live in the rural outback have little access to counselling. Abdul Bhatt, 64, a labourer from the rural hinterland of Tangmarg takes a 40 kilometre journey to meet with doctors at the psychiatric hospital. For over eight years, Mr Bhatt has been diagnosed with psychotic depression and is on a cocktail of drugs for anxiety, emotional liability, and recurring nightmares. "I am tired and can't keep coming here. It is difficult to get a bus and that is why I want more medicines to last me much longer," he said. Although the number of doctors and psychiatrists working across the state has increased, Shazia, a medical student says it is still far from adequate to address pressing mental health issues. "Obviously, I do get unhappy about it ... there are so many people," she said. "We are all doctors but apart from the physical work we do, this is a huge emotional burden." Najeeb Wani from the rural district of Anantnag, about 60 kilometres from Srinagar, says the situation will only improve when the violence stops. "All of us know what is happening in Kashmir for more than two decades and these things will happen," he said. "Things will only become better if normalcy returns. But killings happen regularly here and only Allah is with us." With no end to the separatist conflict in sight, the mental health of many more in Jammu and Kashmir is likely to be affected in the months and years to come. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-05-12/an-surge-in-mental-health-patients-in-india27s-jammu-and-kashm/5448254 -- -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Mental Health Advocacy (News 'N Views) India" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/MhaNewsViewsIndia?hl=en ------------- Affiliated Groups : MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCACY INDIA [email protected] Discussions on mental health law / policy / plan monitoring / human rights etc [email protected] India-specific news and views related to mental health [email protected] Information and support to carers of people with mental health issues [email protected] Mutual support and sharing of experiential knowledge, skills and social learning amongst peers --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Mental Health Advocacy (News 'N Views) India" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
