Healing Kashmir’s Growth

Stage II

This involved on-going assessment of patients by Dr Arshad and his colleagues at The Government Psychiatric Diseases Hospital. I returned to Kashmir in February 2010 for follow-up clinics. As there had been another recent round of violence it was not possible to see all the patients that we had treated in November and December 2009. Those who could get to the clinics that we held in Srinagar were doing well, and those who had made full recovery were sustaining these recoveries. We were able to extend the local clinics in the Srinagar area with the help of local doctors and psychiatrists, who referred trauma patients to the clinics.

Treating a patient at the Government Psychiatric Hospital, Srinagar. Video still © Barbara Krieger

What became increasingly apparent during the initial stages of the project was the urgent need for a fully integrated mental health support system in Kashmir. This has led us to Stage III of the project.

Stage III

We have now expanded the project to include a suicide and mental trauma helpline and an integrated mental health Centre, Kashmir LifeLine and Health Centre.

Shahid, our co-ordinator, at his first desk in our temporary roof office in Srinagar

This stage of the project has been initiated in conjunction with Barbara Krieger, a senior IT producer and team leader at Swiss TV. Barbara’s IT skills have enabled us to increase our mental health reach in Kashmir to a level that we had not previously thought possible. During the pilot phase, from November 2010 to March 2011, this meant developing the first mental crisis helpline and support system of this kind in the region.

Barbara Krieger and Justine shopping for office essentials. Photo © Jonathan Foreman

Due to the violence of the past twenty-one years, and especially the events of the past three summers in Kashmir, pressure has increased on the people of the Valley – particularly young men and women who have grown up with no experience beyond conflict and violence. We are now implementing this helpline and mental support project plan, again working with local doctors and psychiatrists.

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