[Reader-list] Second Posting

[arshad hamid]

*Kashmir, a society haunted*
*By Peerzada Arshad Hamid*
*Srinagar, February 27, 2006*
Incessant violence since 1989 has devastated the Kashmiri psyche and stress
related disorders are rapidly growing up.
People continue to be under tremendous pressure. They have been witnessing
encounter killings, torture, death and destruction due to bomb blasts,
disappearances and rape. Besides this the daily humiliation which the
inhabitants here have to endure, with gun totting men dominating the civic
landscape , makes survival of the people even more depressing. In such
scenario mental disorder is an expected outcome.
If increasing figures of the patients visiting Srinagar's lone psychiatric
hospital since 1989 (the year armed conflict started) is any indication,
Kashmir can not be considered a normal society. The post traumatic stress
disorder prevalent among large sections of Kashmiris has been even
highlighted by *Humra Qureshi *in her book *Kashmir: The Untold Story
(Penguin).*
"The number of patients at the out patient department (OPD) of the lone
government hospital for psychiatric diseases in the valley jumped from six
per day in 1990 to 250-300 in 2000 per day. The  total number of patients
rose from 1,760 in 1990 to 18,000 in 1994 to over 38,000 in 2001," the book
reads.
Most of the people living in Kashmir have fallen prey to mental disorders
like depression or anxiety. The root cause being the continuous threat to
life and mere presence of troops and gun wielding men has led to the feeling
of insecurity among the masses. Prolonged violence for the past 17 years in
the valley has even brought to light the cases of psychosomatic disorders.
Contrary to it prior to the militancy period certain mental disorders, which
were unknown to Kashmir have shown phenomenal presence after the conflict.
One such disorder is the Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
Psychiatrists affirm that no such case was reported before 1989 in the
valley. "PTSD was completely unrecognized in Kashmiri society till 1989
because the situation was peaceful," says Dr. Arshad Hussain, Psychiatrist
and Neuro-Psychiatrist.
Nowadays about 15-20 per cent patients visiting the hospital's OPD are
suffering from PTSD followed by Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). However the
doctors consider this number quite small and misleading. "15-20% of the
patients suffering from PTSD, MDD pouring in the hospital is just the tip of
iceberg. The percentage of such patients would be higher less owing to the
incessant violence," said Dr. Arshad Hussain.
Visiting Psychiatric hospital for treatment of diseases has a social taboo
attached to it. Reason? A common notion here is that anyone visiting a
Psychiatrist is insane. This is the biggest obstacle for the people to come
to Psychiatric hospital for medical consultation.
A study conducted by the doctors in the department of Psychiatry at
Government hospital has shown that after the commencement of any mental
disorder; it takes 5-6 years for a patient to reach the psychiatrist for
consultation of his/her diseases.
Till then they (patients) visit different doctors for treatment as they are
not aware and above all not ready to accept that they are suffering from
mental disorders. Even doctors (other than psychiatrists) too treat them
either for anxiety or cardiac ailments.
The study further revealed that substance use disorder or drug addiction and
suicidal tendencies are other repercussions of the conflict. And in such
conditions these disorders are assuming epidemic proportions in the
community and the patients who come to seek help are in the productive age
group (s) of 20-35.
Caught up in the growing complexities of adolescence, youth are usually
vulnerable to depression. Mere exposure to the additional conflict related
problems, makes them feel over burdened.
Other mental disorders too have shown four fold increase due to the conflict
in Kashmir although they don't have any direct bearing to these diseases.
These include bipolar disorder, panic, phobia, generalized anxiety and sleep
disorders.
As Kashmiri people are living under stressful conditions, the fear of
constant insecurity and uncertainty always occupy their mindset. Watching
helplessly their dear ones being killed, injured and above all themselves
fearing the same has simply wornessed their mental health. Such
circumstances carry every potential of rendering the masses vulnerable to
mental disorders.
The year wise breakup available at Psychiatric Diseases hospital, Srinagar
showing the flow of patients is as:
Year 1985                       775 people visited the Psychiatric hospital.
Year 1989               approx 1,700 people visited the Psychiatric
hospital.

Year 1994               approx 18,000 people visited the Psychiatric
hospital.

Year 1996               approx 20,000 people visited the Psychiatric
hospital.

Year 1999               approx 35,000 people visited the Psychiatric
hospital.

Year 2001               approx 38,000 people visited the Psychiatric
hospital.

Year 2002              approx 45,000 people visited the Psychiatric
hospital.

Year 2005              approx 60,000people visited the Psychiatric hospital.







<http://adworks.rediff.com/cgi-bin/AdWorks/sigclick.cgi/www.rediff.com/signature-home.htm/1507191490@Middle5?PARTNER=3>

--
Peerzada Arshad Hamid
+91-9419027486
+91-1932-234488

Address
Baba mohalla Bijbehara
c/o Tak Trading Company Bijbehara
Jammu & Kashmir
INDIA


www.kashmirnewz.com
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/attachments/20060227/c4f6b49f/attachment.html