Srinagar: After Operation Sindoor last month, Pakistani shelling did not destroy only homes and lives. It left marks on the brains that are not recovering quickly, calling a report of the Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (Imhahs-Kashmir) in Srinagar.The report has a serious picture of mental health conditions in the border areas, which shows deep sitting trauma, internal and sleep disturbances in adults and children, and there is a possibility of unexplained shells between school children.After a stagnation in the operation in mid-May, people returned home, the IMhans teams visited the areas in the shelling-revolution URI to offer emotional support, check for stress, and told people how to get assistance for mental health issues. More than 3,600 people were examined, including 794 women, 624 boys and 815 girls. It was advisable to check-up, consultation, medicines, and safe stay and tension.The report said, “Most patients were in visual crisis, showing signs of shock, confusion, and increased anxiety. Despite being close to the LoC, many shared that they had never experienced such intensity shelling and felt completely unprecedented for this,” the report said.Family, especially children, were experiencing high level anxiety, confusion and sleep disturbances. The report stated, “Many children demonstrated signs of crisis such as klinges, fear of separation from carers, and nightmares,” the report states.The report prescribed a series of antidotes. It advocates a partnership to set up mental health clinics or regular outreach programs in border villages. This suggests training for local community members, teachers and frontline workers in psychological first aid (PFA) and enables them to identify and refer to basic mental health evaluation and support, they require special care. “It can help to overcome the lack of resources and improve access (to take care).”IMHANS experts also highlight challenges, such as stigma around mental health issues, individuals are reluctant to seek help or openly discuss their experiences. “This can be extended to traditional communities.”Beyond the initial trauma, people in the border areas face other stress factors such as uncertainty, loss to property and livelihood and loss of loved ones. “Psychological first aid may not be enough to relieve old stress alone,” the report states.
