By Aatira Kakroo
In Jammu and Kashmir, we often talk about strength. We praise how resilient our people are and how much they have endured over the years. We speak of curfews, conflict, isolation, unemployment, and displacement. What we rarely discuss is the emotional cost of this resilience. We rarely ask how people are actually feeling.
For a region like ours, mental health is not just about wellness. It is about survival.
Almost every family here has been affected by trauma in some form. Whether through conflict-related stress, generational grief, or daily uncertainty, psychological wounds have become part of our social fabric. Unfortunately, we have normalized this pain to the point that asking for help is considered a sign of weakness. Children are told to concentrate on studies and stay strong. Women are asked to compromise and stay silent. Men are expected to suppress their feelings.
This cultural silence is dangerous. It shows up in subtle ways, like social withdrawal, and in alarming trends, like rising suicide rates. According to recent data from the National Crime Records Bureau, suicide cases in Jammu and Kashmir continue to rise, especially among young people. Despite this, conversations about mental health are almost absent in public forums, institutions, and policy planning.
Our healthcare system is also not equipped to handle the mental health crisis. Most schools and colleges do not have access to trained counselors. Primary Health Centres rarely have psychologists. If someone does want to seek help, private therapy is often unaffordable or unavailable in many districts. Instead of professional care, people often hear phrases like “snap out of it” or “you’re just overthinking.”
What we need is a shift in both policy and mindset.
Mental health awareness should be built into school education, college orientation programs, and local governance initiatives. Every school in Jammu and Kashmir should have a trained counselor available to students. Colleges must create safe spaces where young adults can speak openly about stress and anxiety. Local leaders, both religious and community-based, should speak about mental health in a supportive and inclusive way.
Equally important is the language we use. We need to talk about mental health without attaching shame or labels. Encouraging someone to seek therapy should be as normal as encouraging them to see a doctor for a fever. Healing the mind is just as essential as healing the body.
There are a few hopeful developments. A small number of mental health startups and professionals have started offering support, especially in urban areas. Some schools are experimenting with wellness activities. But these efforts are scattered and need more support from government and civil society alike.
Mental health is not a trend or a foreign idea. It is a critical public health issue that affects families, schools, workplaces, and entire communities. Jammu and Kashmir cannot afford to ignore it any longer.
Let us listen more. Let us judge less. And most importantly, let us care.
