Years of conflict in Jammu and Kashmir have taken a toll on people’s mental health in the state. According to a survey conducted by MSF in 2015, nearly 1.8 million adults (45% of the adult population) in the Kashmir Valley show symptoms of significant mental distress. This is compounded by the stigma associated with mental illness.
WHAT WE DO
MSF has been providing free, high-quality counselling to people affected in the valley since 2001. Currently, our teams provide counselling services at hospitals in four districts—Baramulla, Bandipora, Pulwama and Srinagar. To combat the stigma associated with mental illness, MSF teams also raise awareness on the importance of mental health and the need for availability of mental health services in the valley.
IN 2018
MSF continued to provide counselling services at district hospitals in Baramulla, Srinagar, Bandipora, Pulwama; the sub-district hospital in Sopore; and SKIMS Soura in Srinagar. In line with one of the recommendations of the Kashmir Mental Health Survey 2015 and the government’s efforts to increase community-based mental healthcare, MSF started supporting the Government of Jammu and Kashmir in the implementation of the district mental health programme in the Bandipora district of Kashmir. This support is meant to demonstrate feasibility of community mental health initiatives through community awareness activities and setting up referral linkages.
Counselling sessions
conducted
% First-time visitors were
women
Patients (34.6%) were
first-time visitors
% Patients belonged to
the age group 20-29 years