Mudassir Ahmad
SRINAGAR: The ongoing crisis in the Valley have taken a heavy toll on the mental health of Kashmiris with doctors predicting the prolong unrest would lead to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among the people.
Samiya (name changed), a 12-year-old girl from Baramulla has not stopped crying for the last five days when she was caught between protestors and security forces after a teargas shell exploded right near to her. Since this episode, she has not utter a single word and kept herself confined inside her room.
Seeing this abrupt change, her father took her to nearby district hospital where the doctors after examining her diagnosed that she is suffering from post-mental stress disorder. “I brought her to SMHS hospitals after doctors in Baramulla advised that she needs psychiatrist consultation in Srinagar,” her father Ali Mohammad said, who was accompanying her at the SMHS hospital. “Doctors have prescribed some medicines and advised she needs proper medication. Doctors told me that majority of people in Kashmir especially children are facing acute stress disorders in view of ongoing crisis in the Valley,” Ali said.
Valley is under curfew for the last 17 days following the killing of Hizbul Mujahidin ‘commander' Burhan Wani along with two of his accomplices. Most people are confined inside four walls resulting the anxiety and stress level have drastically increased among the residents here.
Dr Akash Khan, a psychiatrist said the anxiety level has increased in the Valley due to ongoing crisis. “There will be post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) of the ongoing crisis but its intensity will be known when doctors examine such patients as people are not able to visit hospitals these days due to restrictions,” Akash said. He said the children may be most affected of the current situation in the Valley.
Noted psychiatrist Dr Arshad Hussain said the stress and the anxiety among people will have increased by the current crisis. “But it is very difficult to tell the consequences of the current situation in Kashmir as of now, as people are not able to visit hospitals due to situation,” he added.
PTSD is a condition that develops after an individual goes through a terrifying ordeal that involves physical harm or the threat of a physical harm.
Symptoms may include disturbing thoughts, feelings, or dreams related to the events, mental or physical distress to trauma-related cues, attempts to avoid trauma-related cues, alterations in how a person thinks and feels, and increased arousal.
According to a survey conducted by Medicines Sans Frontiers (MSF) says that one in every five adults in Kashmir is living with PTSD.
The study that is being described as a first comprehensive mental health survey in Kashmir has revealed that nearly 1.8 million adults equaling 45 per cent of adult population suffer from mental distress in Valley and a majority of people have experienced or witnessed conflict-related trauma.
The report reveals that depression is the most prevalent disorder in the valley with 41 per cent adults showing its symptoms.
“Nearly 1 in 5 adults (19%) in the Kashmir Valley is living with significant PTSD symptoms, representing 7,71,000 individuals, with 2,48,000 (6%) meeting the diagnostic criteria for PTSD,” a report of the research released by the MSF reads.
The report has also revealed that the prevalence of mental distress was “significantly higher” among woman than men.
“50 per cent of women and 37 per cent of men have probable depression, 36 per cent of women and 21 per cent of men have a probable anxiety disorder, and 22 per cent of women and 18 per cent of men have probable PTSD,” a summary of the research reads.
