Jammu, October 9, 2025 – As preparations ramp up for World Mental Health Day on October 10, Jammu district launched community awareness drives today, targeting the psychological toll of August’s floods that affected 50,000 residents. The theme, “Mental Health at Work,” spotlights workplace stress, but local efforts focus on flood survivors, with 20 camps set up in Barnai, Mishriwala, and Akhnoor by the Health Department and NGOs like Helping Hands. Psychiatrist Dr. Veena Gupta, leading a session at Mishriwala’s relief center around 11 AM, said: “Post-trauma anxiety has risen 30% here; we’re offering counseling for women, farmers, and students from all faiths.”
The floods, claiming 150 lives and damaging 4,000 homes, left many with PTSD symptoms, per a recent AIIMS Jammu survey. Today’s drives, attended by 500 people including Muslim widows from Gujjar Nagar and Sikh elders from Janipur, included yoga sessions and helpline demos (104 for mental health). Sarpanch Sunita Devi, 48, from Akhnoor, shared: “Our Gujjar families lost livestock; these talks help process grief.” The initiative, backed by CM Omar Abdullah, extends to Ladakh, where post-unrest stress affects 10% of youth. Tomorrow’s events include webinars for 2,000 teachers on student mental health. Residents can join free sessions at PHCs or call 104.