Srinagar: Divisional Covid Control Room Kashmir (DCCRK) today held a day-long seminar on Mental Health Scenario in Kashmir division at Auditorium hall of DIPR J&K, Srinagar.
The seminar was held in collaboration with DIPR, Srinagar under the theme, ‘Sensitization of media persons regarding mental health scenario in Kashmir’.
Divisional Commissioner (Div Com) Kashmir, Pandurang K Pole, presided over the seminar.
Speaking on the occasion, Div Com said that there is a growing concern amongst parents and Civil society members that there is an alarming rise of the mental health issues in Kashmir, where young children and young adults are indulging in drug addiction and later have a higher tendency of committing suicide.
He also apprised the media fraternity that how some sections of media are reporting such suicidal cases by sensationalising loss of such precious lives and appealed media to play a positive role in addressing the issue.
He said everyone has a moral duty not to post such videos of these people who do attempt such wrong behaviours which can have a negative impact on the psyche of the rest of the society.
Div Com further urged people to cooperate with the administration and avoid growing poppy and other cultivations in their farms, proving harmful for the society later.
He said that various initiatives have been taken and said as many as 31 FIRs have been registered against the growers which has helped in controlling the poppy cultivation in many areas.
Div Com also stressed on involvement of youth in sports and recreational activities to de-stress them and help them to stay away from indulging in drug menace.
At the beginning of the session a short documentary on Positive Mental health was launched by the DCCRK where renowned Doctors spoke on mental health issues during COVID 19.
Director Health Services Kashmir, Dr. Mustaq Ahmad Rather said that mental health issues are on rise in the recent past in the valley where young Children and adults are indulging in drug addiction and trying to finish their live by committing suicides.
He said that as there is increase in the prevalence of these Mental health issues they were planning to start the mental health services at District level where OPD and IPD Services will be further strengthened to address these issues.
Among the panellist Dr. Rouf Hussain Rather Community Medicine Specialist gave a brief presentation on the Global Health Scenario, national health scenario as well as a divisional scenario to the audience.
Professor Psychiatry Srinagar, Dr. Yasir Hassan Rather, spoke about how media must report the suicidal cases in a much better way so that it must stop others to commit such attempts.
ADC Srinagar, Haneef Bulkhi, requested doctors to appraise the general public how to bring positive attitudes towards life by regularly writing to the lay press so that people will be educated well how to handle mental health issues better.
HOD Psychiatry IMHANS GMC Srinagar, Dr. Mohammad Maqbool Dar, briefed the media about various facilities available for mental health issues at their Institute. He also appraised about various training and capacity building training which his department is conducting of and on amongst various stakeholders of the division.
On the occasion, a 24×7 Mental Health Helpline 0194 2455384 was launched for mental health issues which will be operated from DCCRK from today. Also, an advisory was issued for media fraternity as to how it should report mental health issues.
