CHINAR International, in collaboration with the Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (IMHANS) Kashmir, conducted mental health awareness sessions across three districts, reaching 206 community members.
The sessions were held at Sedow in Shopian, Sheikhpora in Anantnag, and Arampora in Baramulla, with participation from women, men, youth, adults, and the elderly.
The initiative aimed to strengthen awareness, promote early identification of mental health concerns, reduce stigma, and encourage timely professional support.
Resource persons from IMHANS Kashmir led interactive sessions on mental health and psychological well-being, covering stress, anxiety, depression, emotional well-being, and common mental health concerns. Participants were also encouraged to maintain healthy routines, practise self-care, support those experiencing emotional difficulties, and seek professional guidance when needed.
The sessions included practical examples, activities, and question-and-answer interactions, giving participants an opportunity to openly share their concerns and experiences.
Speaking about the initiative, Aksa Altaf, Coordinator and Resource Person at IMHANS, said, “Awareness programs like these are important for the early identification of mental health concerns and neurodevelopmental delays among children. We observed that many parents approached us after the sessions with questions and concerns about their children and were actively seeking guidance and support. This shows the importance of taking mental health awareness to the community level, where early concerns can be identified and addressed in a timely manner.”
She emphasized the importance of collaboration between mental health institutions and grassroots organizations.
“If we want to achieve the best results, we need to work in collaboration with civil society, especially organizations that work at the grassroots level and have strong community mobilization and outreach. Such partnerships can help communities access appropriate tertiary care from institutions like IMHANS, while civil society organizations continue to play an important role in primary-level awareness, support, and outreach,” she added.
Kulsoom Ashraf, Program Associate at CHINAR International, said the sessions received an encouraging response.
“We received a very positive response from the community during these sessions. Although the program was initially designed with a focus on the mental well-being of children, we saw participation from people across different age groups, including youth, adults, women, and the elderly. This demonstrated that mental health awareness is a concern and need shared across the community.”
She added, “CHINAR International has collaborated with IMHANS on awareness initiatives in the past, but this was the first time we conducted such sessions under our Community Development Program. The response has encouraged us to take this collaboration forward, and we look forward to organizing more such community-based mental health awareness sessions in the future.”
