Srinagar: Pakistani shelling in Operation Sindoor’s aftermath last month did not just destroy homes and lives. It left scars on minds that aren’t healing quickly, says a report by Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (IMHANS-Kashmir) in Srinagar.The report paints a grim picture of mental health conditions in border areas, revealing deep-seated trauma, paranoia, anxiety, and sleep disturbances in adults and kids, and fears of unexploded shells among schoolchildren.After people returned home following a pause in the operation in mid-May, IMHANS teams visited areas in shelling-ravaged Uri to offer emotional support, check for stress, and tell people how to get help for mental health issues. Over 3,600 people were examined, including 794 women, 624 boys, and 815 girls. Check-ups, counselling, medicines, and advice on staying safe and dealing with stress were provided.“Most patients were in visible distress, exhibiting signs of shock, confusion, and heightened anxiety. Despite residing close to LoC, many shared that they had never experienced shelling of such intensity and felt completely unprepared for it,” the report says.Families, especially children, were experiencing high levels of anxiety, confusion, and sleep disturbances. “Many children displayed signs of distress such as clinginess, fear of separation from caregivers, and nightmares,” the report adds.The report prescribes a series of antidotes. It advocates partnerships to establish mental health clinics or regular outreach programs in border villages. It suggests training for local community members, teachers, and frontline workers in psychological first aid (PFA) and basic mental health assessment and support, enabling them to identify and refer cases needing specialised care. “This can help overcome the dearth of resources and improve accessibility (to care),” the report states.The IMHANS specialists also highlight challenges, such as stigma surrounding mental health issues, making individuals reluctant to seek help or openly discuss their experiences. “This can be exacerbated in traditional communities.”Beyond initial trauma, people in border areas face other stress factors such as uncertainty about the future, damage to property and livelihoods and loss of loved ones. “Psychological first aid alone may not be sufficient to address chronic stress,” the report states.
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