Weeklong Mental Health Awareness Drive by SKIMS Bemina Reaches Students, Teachers

SRINAGAR: In a week marked by outreach, dialogue, and education, the Department of Psychiatry at the Advanced Centre for Mental Health and Addiction Medicine, SKIMS Medical College, Bemina, concluded a weeklong awareness programme across Kashmir to mark World Mental Health Day 2025. This year’s global theme, “Access to Services: Mental Health in Emergencies and Catastrophes,” framed the discussions in light of the region’s recurring natural and man-made crises.

The campaign, held from October 4 to 10, reached a wide audience—from college students and teachers to healthcare professionals and the general public—through a series of collaborative sessions, workshops, and media engagements across districts.

The week began with an outreach event at Government Degree College Kulgam, organised in collaboration with the Group of Concerned Citizens (GCC) led by former advisor to the Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Khurshid Ahmad Ganai, and with active support from District Administration Kulgam headed by Deputy Commissioner Athar Amir Khan. Experts from SKIMS Bemina, including Dr Himayun Majeed, Consultant Psychiatrist, Dr Sameer Khan, Assistant Professor Psychiatric Social Work, and Ms Kousar Siddiq, Lead Counsellor in the Addiction Treatment Facility, held interactive sessions with students on managing stress and recognising mental health needs.

The outreach extended into digital platforms as well. On October 5, a special podcast featuring Prof Abdul Majid was streamed on one of Kashmir’s most-viewed social media channels, followed the next day by a live appearance on Doordarshan Kashmir, where he discussed mental health challenges in the context of emergencies and prolonged societal stress.

On October 7, SKIMS Bemina hosted a session titled “Healing the Healers” for MBBS students, focusing on emotional resilience and coping mechanisms for young medical trainees. The following day, a large workshop—“Strengthening the Pillars of Our Future”—brought together teachers, counsellors, and psychologists from across the Valley in collaboration with the Directorate of School Education, Kashmir.

Inaugurated by Principal SKIMS Medical College, Prof Fazalul Qadir Parray, the workshop highlighted the role of teachers as first responders to student distress. “Educators can play a transformative role in breaking stigma and identifying early signs of mental health issues among children,” he said.

Prof Abdul Majid, Head of the Department of Psychiatry, emphasised that early detection and timely referral to nearby services are crucial, especially in times of crisis. Detailed sessions were led by Dr Nizam Ud Din, Assistant Professor Psychiatry, and a team of clinical psychologists including Dr Masood Maqbool, Ms Rafia, Ms Nighat, and Ms Gousia, who spoke on behavioural and developmental disorders such as ADHD and autism.

The final days of the awareness week saw extensive engagement with local media and community groups. On October 9 and 10, experts from the department held interactive sessions with 93.7 Red FM, Radio Kashmir Srinagar, and Government Degree College Delina, Baramulla. On October 10—World Mental Health Day itself—Assistant Professor Psychiatry, Dr Nizam Ud Din, conducted a session on psychological first aid for nurses and paramedical staff, supported by a team of psychiatrists, psychologists, and nursing faculty.

Adding to the department’s visibility, Prof Abdul Majid also delivered a guest lecture titled “Experience of Being a Mental Health Professional in an Armed Conflict Zone” at the 56th Annual Conference of the Indian Psychiatric Society (IPS) West Zone held in Maharashtra, coinciding with the global observance.

The series of events underscored SKIMS Bemina’s growing role as a centre of public mental health engagement in Jammu and Kashmir, blending academic insight with community-based action to make mental healthcare more accessible and empathetic in times of uncertainty.