The Psychological Distress among Youth in Conflict Zone A Case Study of Kashmir Valley, India

Abstract

Mental, physical and social health are vital strands of life that are closely interwoven and deeply interdependent. Depression is more likely following particular classes of experience – those involving conflict, disruption, losses and experiences of humiliation or entrapment. The World Health Organization has ranked depression as the fourth among the list of the most urgent health problems worldwide and has predicted it to become number two in terms of disease burden by 2020 overriding diabetes, cancer, arthritis etc. The magnitude, suffering and burden in terms of disability and costs for individuals, families and societies are staggering. Mental disorders are universal, affecting people of all countries and societies, individuals at all ages, women and men, the rich and the poor, from urban and rural environments. Mental functioning is fundamentally interconnected with physical and social functioning and health outcomes. Mental health is influenced by displacement through conflict and war, by stresses on families, and by economic adversity.