Overview

JKASW’s Mental Health and Psychosocial Wellbeing Program seeks to promote holistic wellbeing, reduce stigma, and strengthen community-based mental health support systems in rural Kashmir. Recognizing the complex interplay of social, economic, and emotional challenges faced by individuals especially women, youth, and conflict-affected populations, the program adopts an integrated, rights-based, and community-driven approach to mental health.

Through awareness generation, counselling, psychosocial support, and institutional linkages, JKASW aims to make mental health care accessible, inclusive, and culturally sensitive. The initiative focuses on early identification, community outreach, and capacity building of local actors, teachers, health workers, and volunteers to create a grassroots network of care.

The program places special emphasis on gender and rural dimensions, addressing issues such as trauma, domestic stress, and abuse that disproportionately affect women and marginalized groups. By normalizing conversations around mental health and promoting community resilience, JKASW envisions emotionally healthy and socially supportive villages.

Goal

To ensure that individuals and communities in intervention areas have access to compassionate, inclusive, and community-based mental health and psychosocial support systems that foster resilience and well-being.

Objectives

• Promote mental health awareness and reduce stigma through community campaigns, schools, and youth forums
• Provide accessible psychosocial support and counselling services for individuals, families, and groups in rural areas
• Strengthen the capacity of frontline workers, teachers, and volunteers to identify and respond to mental health concerns
• Integrate mental health support within existing community structures, including child protection, livelihood, and education programs
• Address gender-specific mental health issues, including stress related to caregiving, domestic violence, and social isolation
• Facilitate referrals and linkages with government and institutional mental health services for advanced care
• Develop safe community spaces where individuals can access peer support and wellbeing activities
• Build resilience and coping mechanisms among youth through psychosocial education and skill-building initiatives
• Advocate for inclusion of mental health as a core component of rural development and protection frameworks.

Achievements

• Provided psychoeducation and primary counselling to over 20000 community members across multiple districts
• Trained 400+ community volunteers, teachers, and health workers in basic psychosocial first aid and stress management
• Created 60 safe community spaces offering recreational, educational, and mental health support activities
• Integrated psychosocial wellbeing sessions within JKASW’s Gender and child protection programs, ensuring a holistic care model
• Conducted 100 awareness drives and mental health camps focusing on stress, anxiety, domestic conflict, and trauma recovery
• Linked 500+ beneficiaries to district mental health programs and hospital-based professionals for specialized care
• Strengthened local referral systems by engaging Panchayat representatives, health departments, and women’s collectives.