Kashmir facing growing mental health Crisis: Experts
Say Loneliness, Relationship Failures & Family Pressure major factors responsible
IMHANS experts warn of alarming mental health crisis, teenagers, women at risk
By: Our Special Correspondent
Srinagar: Kashmir is facing a growing mental health crisis, with loneliness, failed romantic relationships and intense parental pressure emerging as major causes behind the rising number of suicides in the Valley.
Dr Aijaz Suhaf, Assistant Professor at the Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (IMHANS), has expressed serious concern over the trend, describing the situation as “dangerous.”
Speaking to ‘Kashmir Vision’, Dr Suhaf said that strangulation and jumping into rivers are among the most common forms of suicide currently reported in the region. He added that the diagnosis of fatal diseases within families is also contributing to severe emotional distress, especially among the youth.
“Loneliness often leads to anxiety and depression and if left untreated, it can tragically culminate in suicide,” he said. According to Dr Suhaf, young teenagers, especially girls and women are particularly vulnerable in the current social climate of the Valley.
He urged parents to be vigilant and seek immediate professional help if they notice behavioural changes in their children.
“Timely intervention can save lives. Parents must not ignore emotional or behavioural red flags,” he advised.
He also emphasised the need for the younger generation to support elderly family members, instead of abandoning them in times of emotional need.
The IMHANS-operated Tele-MANAS helpline, launched in 2022 to offer mental health support across Jammu and Kashmir, has received over 90,000 distress calls so far.
Since January 2025 alone, more than 15,000 calls have been recorded, highlighting the urgency for comprehensive mental health awareness and support services in the region.
Experts are now calling for a multi-tiered approach involving schools, communities, and government institutions to tackle the mental health epidemic in Kashmir before it claims more lives.
