District Health Society Kargil organised a panel discussion on mental health at the District Hospital, Kargil on July 6.

The panel included prominent participants such as Rector of the University of Ladakh, Kargil Campus, Kaneez Fatima, and various doctors from DHK Kargil, including Dr. Fatima Nissa (Nodal Officer, Mental Health DHK), Dr. Ghulam Hussain Bardi (Consultant Physician), Dr. Zahra Banoo (Gynecologist), Dr. Sajjad Hussain (Surgeon), Dr. Murtaza Ali (Consultant Psychiatrist), Dr. Azhar (Orthopedic Surgeon), and Dr. Tanveer (Nodal Officer, NCD OPD).

The discussion covered a wide range of mental health issues such as postpartum psychosis, ADHD, substance abuse, depression, schizophrenia, and other related diseases. The panel emphasized the critical importance of mental health for social life and financial prosperity. They noted an increase in patient referrals for psychiatric consultation due to the availability of specialized doctors at DHK.

Strong measures for diagnosing mental health disorders were discussed, highlighting the need for holistic care for adolescents experiencing stress and those prone to substance abuse. The panel also acknowledged the significant stress on youth due to performance pressures and stressed that mental health issues should be treated as normal health problems by society.

The panel further discussed postpartum psychosis, stress among patients undergoing major surgery, and intellectual disabilities in children. The collective agreement was to develop robust methods for spreading awareness about mental health, urging the public to seek consultation from psychiatrists or psychologists when facing psychological issues.