Sadia Sana
In 2013, 29-year-old Waseem Iqbal completed his graduation from Government Degree College in Poonch- a border district located approximately 230 kilometres from Jammu City in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. He then shifted to National Capital to pursue postgraduation in Geography from Jamia Milia Islamia. In 2019, he also cracked the National Eligibility Test (NET) in same subject. However, despite pursuing quality education from reputed universities, Waseem has been unable to find himself a job. It’s been over four years that he is struggling to get rid of the tag of an unemployed. This has severely disrupted his mental stability.
A recent report shows how in the year of 2019,the annual unemployment numbers for Jammu and Kashmir have increased from 11.57 to 16.29 percent. In 2021, it went up to 22.2% as per another report.Ever since there has been no improvement and has possibly led several others like Waseem towards depression and anxiety.
Along with unemployment, prolonged conflict and Covid-19 induced lockdowns have also contributed to the increasing mental health concerns in the region. As mentioned in The Wire’s report, “A recent survey by doctors found that 94.2% of respondents who reached out to professionals experienced severe anxiety due to continuous conflict in the region and the Covid-19 induced lockdown.”
While unemployment and conflict have always been at the fore font causing depression, societal pressure has equally added to the numbers. Dr Ashraf Hussain, 40, a psychiatrist from Government Medical College in Srinagar stresses on two main reasons that lead to unstable mental health. “First, pressure from the society and second, high expectations of parents from their children overburdens the young minds who, unable to meet these expectations, fall into depression. All these are the major issues which lead to anxiety, depression, overthinking and stress,” explained Dr. Ashraf.
According to him, depression can trigger difficulty in thinking, concentration or making decisions. He further added that many people who receive effective treatment for depression can go on to live healthy and happy lives. But for some,depression may be a life long challenge that might require long-term treatment. “One should never hesitate to take clinical help. Talk to your doctor freely if you think you are suffering from depression or a major depressive disorder,” insisted Dr. Ashraf.
For Tanveer Akhtar,45, who is a teacher in a Middle School in Mangnar village in Poonch, women face a unique set of challenges in Jammu and Kashmir which affects their mental health. Early marriage, torture, no right to freedom or to express their opinions suppresses the lives of women here. A report highlights that the “prevalence of depression among females is higher (93.10 %) as compared to males (6.8%)”.
“Women are not allowed to follow their wishes. Parents don’t realize how controlling each and every action of their daughters can impact their mental health and wellbeing. Economic dependency and social discrimination equally contribute to women’s higher risk of depression,” expressed Tanveer.To keep a check on the mental health of the communities, Tanveer suggested establishing of counselling centres or monthly camps in villages for spreading awareness among the people regarding the importance of mental health. She also believes educating parents on mental health can play an effective role in addressing the issueat community level.
If there is no immediate action taken to tackle the growing concerns of mental health in J&K, it can lead to an uncontrollable situation. A paper suggests how community participation accompanied by awareness program should be implemented to see positive results. It states “Counselling services have to be available adequately for dealing with the enduring trauma. There is also an urgent need for researchers, clinicians, and policymakers for devising policies and intervention in the context of the prevailing mental health status of the population.” It is also pertinent that devised policies and intervention should be accessible both in terms of geography and monetary.
(The author is a rural writer from Poonch)
Charkha Features
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