In Jammu And Kashmir, A Silent Mental Health Crisis Brews Among Women

Patients evaluated by the centre, which waslaunched by the central government, reveals that women are more vulnerable to stress than men, and are facing a mental health crisis.

Seventy per cent of distress calls seeking mental health care in Jammu and Kashmir are women, according to TeleManas center, a digital platform for mental health. Patients evaluated by the centre, which was launched by the central government, reveals that women are more vulnerable to stress than men, and are facing a mental health crisis.

Due to a prolonged conflict, women in Kashmir have silently suffered, and their mental health crisis has only worsened over the years.

Seerat, who is one of 18 counselors, counsels a young woman facing mental health problems which she fears will impact her marriage prospects. Seerat's immediate brief as a counselor involves assuring the caller that her identity will remain confidential and that things will be sorted soon.

At the Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences in Srinagar, it's an all women TeleManas centre which makes it more convenient for women to share their mental illness problems.