Potentialities and challenges of digital health in psychiatry in Kashmir, India

摘要

Since the inception, the people of Kashmir have been exposed to enduring conflict, war, and political instability that take a huge toll on the mental health and well-being. About 45% (1.8 million) of the Kashmiri population is suffering from some sort of psychological distress.1 However, health-seeking behaviors have been seriously affected by curfews, lockdowns, and communication black-outs due to recent political turbulence.2 Additionally, Kashmir is vulnerable to several types of disasters particularly earthquakes, landslides, floods, and avalanches due to its geographical characteristics. Moreover, the current COVID-19 pandemic along with lockdown measures to prevent the spread of the disease has worsened the mental health status of the Kashmiri population.