Impact of Conflict on Mental Healthof Women: A Socio-Psychological Study of Kashmir

Abstract

The impacts of armed conflict are complex and wide ranging. Such conflictscausewidespread insecurity due to forced displacement, sudden destitution, the breakup of families and communities, collapsed social structures and the breakdown of the rule of law. This insecurity caneven persist long after the conflicts have ended as internally displaced persons (IDP), refugees, and asylum seekers try to adjust to new circumstances around them, cope with loss, and regainasenseofnormalcy.Mental, physical and social health, are vital strands of life that are closely interwoven and deeply interdependent. The armed conflicts give an alarming flip to mental disorders.Such disorders affect people of all countries and societies, individuals of all age groups, women and men, the rich and the poor, from urban and rural environments. Many people living amidst the rages of armed conflict suffer from posttraumatic stress disorder.Kashmir conflict has hit the health scenario of almost all the sections and age groups of this society .Women are the worst affected of this ongoing turmoil.The most prominent of the mental disorders and psychosocial consequences Kashmiri women is currently suffering from, include: sleeplessness, fear, nervousness, anger, aggressiveness, depression, flashbacks, suicide, and domestic and sexual violence.The present paper provides an overview of Impact of armed conflict on mental health of women in Kashmir, and exploresthelinksbetweenarmed conflictandmentalandpsychosocialdisorders.The paper also explores the societal responses towards the mental health victims and their kindred. Thepaper also presentssuggestionsbasedon some expert opinions and research studies that can help guide interventions andapproaches toaddress mental health and psychosocial disorders among women of conflict-affectedKashmir.