DR. NADIA MEHRDIN , DR. MUHAMMAD TAHIR , DR. NASEEM UR REHMAN , DR. AQSA SAJID , DR. RIZWANA KHALIQ , DR. SHAUKAT HAYAT
DOI: https://doi.org/This study has addressed the mental and physical health impacts of the prolonged conflict on the Kashmir youth between the ages of 15 years and 29 years of age. Within the framework of the mixed-methods research design, the researchers collected data of 400 respondents by using standardized psychological assessment tools and administration of structured questionnaires and 30 respondents by administering qualitative in-depth interviews. The tools of the quantitative analysis were the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist and the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale that were applied to test the mental health outcomes, and the physical health outcomes noted were conflict-related injuries and chronic illnesses. The results showed alarming levels of post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and anxiety among the population of young Kashmiris with 67.5% exhibiting the symptoms of PTSD and 72.3% developing moderate to severe cases of depression. Physical health status indicated that 45.2 percent of the participants had conflict related injury or chronic disorders. The theming of qualitative data identified the themes of persistent fear, disrupted education, social isolation, loss of loved ones, economic hardship and restricted mobility as themes that had significant effects on the wellbeing of the youth. The researchers concluded that long term conflict impacted greatly and complicated health complex impacts to the Kashmiri youths that need urgent mental health care, better healthcare provision and psychosocial interventions depending on the needs of the people who were affected by the war.
