According to the study conducted by the University of Kashmir, mental illness in women has increased at an alarming pace compared to period when there was no militancy in the region. The flow of female patients in the psychiatric hospitals has increased from 700 in 1985 to nearly one lakh in 2013, per year.
The Psychiatric Diseases Hospital data shows that 15 percent of women in Kashmir suffer from stress and prolonged trauma. 70-80 percent of cases of acute depression are women, with 16 percent with PTSD.
43 yaer old Haleema has been visiting Kashmir’s lone psychiatric hospital from the past 10 years. She was 7 months pregnant when her husband left home to receive arms training in Pakistan. On his return, he was killed near the border by army. As Haleema gave birth to the baby boy later, she started feeling sleeplessness and behavioural change. “She kept saying that her husband has returned home and often visits her. We during the starting period were of the opinion that Haleema is possessed by some evil spirit,” her brother Mohammad Shafi Khan said.
As Khan failed in all his efforts to cure his sister, he one day took her to Kashmir’s psychiatric hospital, where Haleema was diagnosed Post Trauma Stress Disorders (PTSD) by the doctors. Sitting on a wooden bench outside doctor’s chamber, Haleema could be seen covering her face with her head scarf and gazing at every face passing nearby. “My agony is that I could not see the dead body of my husband. He was buried at the border and I came to know about his death after several months,” Haleemasaid. “Now, when I have a son who keeps on asking me about his father, what would I tell him- you tell me- you have to tell me,” she added, sobbing. The outbreak of violence in 1990 precipitated a humanitarian crisis of tragic enormity. The loss of human lives in Kashmir during the militancy period has been several times greater than the combined casualties of four wars fought between India and Pakistan since partition.
Numerous militant attacks, human rights violations, killings, abductions and murders resulted in an epidemic outbreak of stress related disorders in the region with women becoming the worst victims. According to the study conducted by the University of Kashmir, mental illness in women has increased at an alarming pace compared to period when there was no militancy in the region. The flow of female patients in the psychiatric hospitals has increased from 700 in 1985 to nearly one lakh in 2013, per year. The Psychiatric Diseases Hospital data shows that 15 percent of women in Kashmir suffer from stress and prolonged trauma. 70-80 percent of cases of acute depression are women, with 16 percent with PTSD. 61 year old Nasreena had a lone son who joined militancy in 2005 and was killed during one of the encounters with the forces two years later. Since that day, Nasreena often locks herself in a room than starts screaming and sobbing loudly.
Majority of the widows of Kashmir conflict live a miserable life as the government and other organizations have not paid adequate attention to their problems and with the result their problems have compounded alarmingly.
“It was no less than a shock for her to see the dead body of her 19 year old son. She never even tried to reconcile with that incident. During the initial days, she kept staring at the picture of her son. Her behaviour started changing gradually,” says her husband, GhulamQadir. Undergoing the treatment at the hospital, Nasreena is treated for the acute depression from the past eight years. Rahti begum visits the psychiatric hospital regularly and is treated for PTSD. Her son 12 years back was killed by the militants in his home infront of his mother Rahti. “They fired several bullets in his chest. I cried for help but no one came. My son died before my eyes and I could not save him,” Rahti said. Her other two children also witnessed how their brother was brutally killed.
“I fainted and when I regained my consciousness, hundreds of people were in my house. The time when I saw my son dying would never get erased from my memory. I will die with the regret of not being able to save my son from dying at the young age,” Rahtisaid. Her other children too are suffering from depression and are treated besides their mother. “Whenever my children hear the gunshots or even the thuds of the firecrackers, they faint. We believe there is no medicine in the world that could cure our sufferings,” Rahti said. Kashmir’s renowned Psychiatrist DrMushtaqMargoob says women are the worst sufferers of the conflict as after losing their dear ones, they believe there is no place safer for them. “The trauma could be seen on their faces. Women continue to bear the brunt of this conflict of attrition.
The traumatic experience of violence can have long lasting and deeprooted psychological consequences,” says DrMargoob. For Asha begum, a half widow, life became ordeal when her husband was subjected to to enforced disappearance by security forces 18 years ago. Asha’s husband was a lone breadwinner for his family. A tourist guide by profession , hewould take tourists to various destinations in Kashmir. After his disappearance, the family suffered both emotionally and financially. “I have three daughters and it is difficult for me to find a match for them. We have little money and we survive in difficult circumstances,” Asha said. Doctors have diagnosed her as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) patient. “After my husband disappeared, there is no one even in our relation who could help us fiancailly. I really want to die as there is no purpose to live in this world,” Asha said while waiting for her appointment at the Psychiatric hospital where she has been visiting from the past several years.
The outbreak of violence in 1990 precipitated a humanitarian crisis of tragic enormity. The loss of human lives in Kashmir during the militancy period has been several times greater than the combined casualties of four wars fought between India and Pakistan since partition.
The doctors have advised her to take medicines regularly, but the destitute at times doesn’t have enough money to buy the costly drugs. Majority of the widows of Kashmir conflict live a miserable life as the government and other organizations have not paid adequate attention to their problems and with the result their problems have compounded alarmingly. DrAsima Hassan, who has done a research on impact of Kashmir conflict, says in any conflict situation women always bear the brunt. “The impact of the conflict has rendered emotional strength of women into weakness and has engulfed them into a constant state of depression,” she said. “Ever-increasing number of widows has been one of the aftermaths of the armed conflict in Kashmir. These widows witness worst socio- economic conditions as their only bread-earners have been either killed or injured or have mysteriously disappeared,” she added.
DrArshadHussain, a noted Psychiatrist in Kashmir says even after the decrease in violence related incidents in Kashmir, the number of people suffering from mental ailment continues to increase. “People have started stepping up to seek professional medical treatment to recover, but earlier mental illness was stigmatized here particularly among women and usually it was kept hidden,” DrArshid said. Without any comprehensive program by the government to mitigate the sufferings of the people suffering from the mental diseases, the non-government organisations have stepped in to put lid over the crises. ActionAid India has been working in Kashmir to provide community based psycho-social support and livelihood to people affected by conflict and poor socio-economic conditions.
DrAsima Hassan, who has done a research on impact of Kashmir conflict, says in any conflict situation women always bear the brunt. “The impact of the conflict has rendered emotional strength of women into weakness and has engulfed them into a constant state of depression,” she said.
The main focus of the psychosocial project has been on building resilience and coping capacities of families under trauma and to enable people access various government schemes and entitlements. The Project Manager for ActionAid in Kashmir, Tanveer Ahmad said that the formation of village level committees is an integral part of the project that acts as the catalyst of change at community level and is the medium of generating awareness and sensitizing community on different psycho-social issues. Besides that, awareness workshops are organized as a first community intervention to raise awareness on various psycho-social issues. The number of awareness camps organized so far is 72, reaching out approximately to 1800 people.
“We arrange health camps at the village level and each health camp cater to an average of 220 people. Health camps are organized in villages where there is very less or no medical facility available in the vicinity. The health camps organized aim not only at general health check up but an initial screening of the people is being done for further psychological care. So far, more than 30 health camps have been organised catering to more than 6000 people in 2014 and 2015,” Tanveer said. “Since last year, we have been able to cover almost 2400 people and those who experience severe mental health issues and need psychiatric treatment, alongside counseling, are referred to District Hospitals where psychiatrists are available. Their travel and treatment costs are borne under the project
ActionAid has also been providing livelihood support to the people who are finically poor and are suffering through psycho-social issues. The support is provided to strength their livelihoods which don’t only help to improve their incomes but also works as an occupational therapy to many to enable them cope up with their mental health issues and develop social dignity with a sense of empowerment.
Numerous militant attacks, human rights violations, killings, abductions and murders resulted in an epidemic outbreak of stress related disorders in the region with women becoming the worst victims.
