As the world observed World Suicide Prevention Day on Tuesday, Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir is grappling with a disturbing trend of increasing suicides among both civilians and Indian occupation forces personnel stationed in the territory.

According to Kashmir Media Service, the prolonged occupation has taken a severe psychological toll on both populations, leading to a surge in mental health issues, emotional distress, and suicidal tendencies.

In a bid to address this growing concern, Civil Society Sopore and Medical College Bemina organized events to raise awareness about suicide prevention and promote mental health support.

The events, held in Sopore and Bemina, aimed to highlight the importance of mental health awareness and suicide prevention in Kashmir, where the prolonged occupation has created a volatile environment conducive to psychological distress.

Aashiq Hussain Zaki, Chairman of Civil Society Sopore, emphasized the need for early detection of warning signs and symptoms related to suicidal thoughts. He stressed that every individual can play a critical role in preventing suicide by being vigilant and offering support to those in need.

Similarly, at Medical College Bemina, experts deliberated on the theme ‘Changing the narrative, start the conversation.’ They discussed the stigma and discrimination surrounding mental health issues, which often prevent individuals from seeking help.

The events also shed light on the mental health of of Indian troops stationed in Kashmir, who are increasingly reporting mental health issues and suicidal tendencies due to the prolonged occupation.

According to experts, the psychological toll of the occupation is evident in the rising number of suicides among Indian forces, with many struggling to cope with the trauma and stress of their deployment.

The events concluded with a call to action, urging stakeholders to follow the National Suicide Prevention Strategy and promote mental health support in Kashmir.