Suhaib Bakshi
On any given morning in Jammu and Kashmir, daily life unfolds in familiar ways. Students walk into classrooms, shopkeepers raise the shutters of their stores, and parents begin another day of work and responsibility. At first glance, daily life follows familiar routines. Yet behind many of these everyday moments, people quietly carry worries and emotional burdens that are rarely visible. A young student may sit through an entire lecture while struggling to concentrate. A worker may continue through the day while feeling overwhelmed by anxiety. An elderly person may spend long evenings coping with loneliness that is difficult to express.
Mental health challenges often remain invisible. Unlike physical illness, they do not always show clear outward signs. Someone may smile during a conversation while feeling deeply exhausted inside, while another person may continue working, studying, and caring for family members while quietly managing sadness or stress. These experiences are part of being human, and they exist in every society. Jammu and Kashmir is no exception. Over the past decade, research has helped shed light on the scale of these struggles.
One of the most widely cited studies, the 2015 Mental Health Survey of the Kashmir Valley conducted by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) together with the University of Kashmir, found that around 45 percent of adults reported symptoms of mental distress, including depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress. The study estimated that nearly 1.8 million adults may be experiencing significant psychological stress. Academic research has echoed these findings. A population study titled Prevalence of Mental Distress and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in the Kashmir Valley, published in BMJ Global Health in 2017, documented widespread emotional distress and highlighted the importance of accessible mental-health support. More recent epidemiological research available through PubMed Central and the U.S. National Library of Medicine suggests that about 11.3 percent of adults live with a diagnosable mental illness, with depression among the most common conditions.
Behind these numbers are real lives. They include students trying to concentrate on their studies, young people navigating uncertainty about the future, parents working to provide stability for their families, and older individuals coping with loneliness or change. Yet finding professional psychological support is not always easy. Public hospitals and government health programmes provide vital services across Jammu and Kashmir, especially for families who rely on public healthcare. However, the number of trained specialists available to provide sustained psychological care remains limited.
According to official data from the Jammu and Kashmir Health and Medical Education Department under the National Health Mission, the mental-health workforce across the Union Territory includes around 65 professionals, including psychiatrists, psychologists, psychiatric social workers, and nurses. Within this workforce, around 11 clinical psychologists provide psychological services in the public health system. These figures have also been highlighted in reporting on the region’s mental-health infrastructure, including coverage published by Kashmir Life, which noted the challenge of a small number of specialists serving a population of more than twelve million people across Jammu and Kashmir. Healthcare institutions in the Jammu region also play an important role in supporting people in need. Facilities such as the Government Psychiatric Diseases Hospital associated with the Government Medical College Jammu provide psychiatric treatment and counselling services for patients from different districts.
Clinical psychologists working in these settings are trained to help people talk through difficult experiences, understand their emotions, and develop healthier ways of coping with stress. But when only a limited number of specialists are available, access to sustained psychological care can become difficult. In busy hospitals, mental-health professionals often see many patients each day, and conversations may therefore be brief, even though emotional healing often requires time, patience, and trust.
This is where psychological care becomes so important. Therapy and counselling create space for people to speak openly about their thoughts and feelings in a safe and confidential environment. For someone living with anxiety, these conversations can offer tools to manage overwhelming thoughts. For someone experiencing depression, they can help rebuild daily routines and reconnect with sources of meaning and support. Psychological care does not only address symptoms. It helps people understand their experiences, make sense of their emotions, and develop coping skills that support long-term wellbeing.
The World Health Organization’s Mental Health Action Plan highlights counselling and psychosocial support as essential parts of effective mental-health care. Research published in journals such as The Lancet Psychiatry also emphasises the importance of expanding community-based psychological support across communities. Yet access to regular therapy remains limited in many parts of Jammu and Kashmir. Public healthcare services often work under heavy demand, while private counselling services may not always be easily accessible for every family.
Across the world, many societies have begun integrating mental-health support into everyday life. Schools increasingly provide counsellors who help students manage academic pressure and personal challenges. Universities offer confidential counselling centres for young people navigating important transitions. Workplaces sometimes provide employee assistance programmes that allow staff to speak with trained professionals during difficult periods. These efforts recognise a simple truth: emotional well-being deserves attention throughout life, not only during moments of crisis.
In Jammu and Kashmir, some institutions have begun introducing counselling services, though availability varies. Expanding these services could make a meaningful difference. Increasing the number of trained psychologists and counsellors in district hospitals and community health centres would help bring support closer to communities. Schools and colleges could develop professionally supervised counselling services where students feel comfortable discussing emotional challenges. Technology may also help expand access. Tele-mental-health platforms can connect people with trained professionals through secure video or phone consultations, making psychological support easier to reach even in geographically distant areas.
Equally important is the way society talks about mental health. Emotional challenges are a natural part of life. People everywhere experience stress, grief, and uncertainty at different stages. When these experiences are met with empathy and understanding, individuals feel safer seeking help when they need it. The communities of Jammu and Kashmir are known for their fortitude and strong social bonds. Families, neighbours, and local networks often support one another during difficult times, and expanding access to professional psychological care can strengthen these existing sources of support rather than replace them.
When people receive the help they need, the benefits extend far beyond individual well-being. Students can focus more clearly on learning. Workers can remain engaged and productive. Families can build healthier relationships. In the end, the goal is simple: anyone experiencing emotional difficulty should be able to find someone who will listen with care, patience, and understanding.
Sometimes what people need most is not a prescription. Sometimes they simply need someone willing and trained to listen.
(Suhaib Bakshi is a writer. He can be reached at bakshisuhaib094@gmail.com)
