Suhail Rather

Srinagar, October 10 (KNS): The Department of Psychiatry at SKIMS Medical College, Bemina, on Saturday launched a month-long Mental Health Month observance, scheduled from October 10 to November 10, 2026, with a focus on improving access to mental healthcare, reducing stigma and incorporating the experiences of patients into policymaking and service delivery.

The campaign is being observed under the theme “Lived Experiences Heard: Real Voices, Real Change,” highlighting the importance of recognising people who have experienced mental health challenges as valuable contributors to the planning, implementation and evaluation of mental health policies and services.

The department emphasised the need for region-specific approaches to mental healthcare, stating that policies and interventions should reflect the experiences, cultural context and healthcare needs of local populations rather than relying solely on solutions developed in other countries.

As part of the inaugural activities, a team of mental health professionals led by Dr Nizam ud Din, Associate Professor of Psychiatry, along with Dr Gulzar Muzzaffar, Dr Abid Parvaiz and Mr Sameer Khan, organised an awareness-cum-treatment camp at Sub-District Hospital Tangdhar in Kupwara district.

During the camp, patients seeking treatment were assessed, free medicines were provided to those in need, and patients requiring long-term care were linked with the Department of Psychiatry at SKIMS Medical College for continued treatment and better clinical outcomes.

The department also initiated awareness programmes through Doordarshan, All India Radio, Greater Kashmir Communications and Red FM 93.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel5. Prof Abdul Majid, Head of the Department of Psychiatry and Sub-Dean at SKIMS Medical College, participated in these initiatives to promote awareness and encourage informed public discussion on mental health.

The department plans to organise a series of activities over the coming month in collaboration with relevant stakeholders, with the aim of addressing stigma and discrimination faced by people living with mental health conditions and their families. The initiatives will also encourage patients and individuals with lived experiences to contribute to discussions on mental health policies and their implementation.

Prof Abdul Majid thanked Prof Mohammad Ashraf Ganie, Director SKIMS Soura; Prof Fazl ul Qadir Parray, Principal SKIMS Medical College; Dr Nighat Yasmeen, Director Health Services Kashmir; Dr Arif Khwaja, Block Medical Officer at SDH Tangdhar; and other concerned authorities for facilitating the smooth conduct of the awareness initiatives.

The department also highlighted the availability of a 40-bedded inpatient facility at the newly developed centre, along with a range of diagnostic testing facilities, interventions and procedures aimed at strengthening psychiatric care.

Faculty members and staff expressed hope that the facilities available at SKIMS Medical College, Bemina, would help patients access comprehensive mental health services within Jammu and Kashmir, reducing the need to seek specialised treatment outside the Union Territory. (KNS)