Mental health issues are very prevalent. As per latest WHO report (2019) , depressive disorders are second only to ischemic heart diseases. Although the prevalence is high but the treatment availability , treatment utilization and awareness is very low . Most of the mental health issues behave like other chronic life style illness with a good prognosis at one end and a severe symptomlogy for a minority of these morbid people. The hindrances in treatment are further augmented by the stigma and poor referral of such patients. The services in our part of world are far less than needed and there are a lot of unrecognized mental illness where life could have been made better by some simple interventions.

The mental health issues have been further complicated by disasters at individual and social level . The disasters have been manmade , natural , environmental , economic and health disasters. The key for better mental health results has been the containment of morbidity and mortality vis a-viz a good economic and emotional rehabilitation.

Having said all this we should not underestimate the wealth of coping and resilience which is inherited by this part of world .These qualities have made us stay healthy even through some of the worst crisis of mankind.

To help the people of our state , to tackle this modern global epidemic of mental health morbidity , department of Psychiatry GMC Anantnag has been giving its services . People should shun stigma , stay aware and seek help whenever needed.

Wishing you all a healthy life.