Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Aug 25: ‘Supporting Always Wholeheartedly All Brokenhearted’ (SAWAB), in collaboration with the Voluntary Medicare Society (VMS), SKIMS Medical College and IMHANS-K today organised a CME program on “Handling Emerging Mental Health Challenges Among Adolescents and Youth Mental Health Crisis in the Community.”
The event, part of SAWAB’s annual professional education series, brought together experts, researchers and practitioners to discuss strategies for strengthening mental health care for young people.
Prof. (Dr) Lakshmi Vijaykumar, a leading voice in suicide prevention and founder of SNEHA, delivered the opening session.
She stressed early intervention, community participation and policy-level advocacy, recalling her role in shaping India’s National Mental Health Policy and in efforts to decriminalise suicide.
Prof. Zaid Ahmad Wani, Head of Unit, IMHANS-K, spoke about challenges in child and adolescent mental health in Kashmir, while Dr. Wasim Ahmad, Consultant Cardiologist at Amandeep BR Medicity, highlighted cardiac complications linked to substance use among youth.
In his keynote, Prof. Mushtaq Ahmad Margoob, SAWAB founder and one of the region’s most prominent psychiatrists, examined the long-term impact of trauma on children.
He explained how early traumatic experiences can result in PTSD, depression, substance use and physical health issues, and emphasised the need for timely, trauma-sensitive interventions.
The CME was moderated by Prof. Dr Abdul Majid, Head of Psychiatry, SKIMS.
Senior psychiatrists including Dr. Zubair Saleem, Dr. Imtiaz Mansoor, Dr. Majid Shafi, Dr. Mansoor Ahmed, Dr. Yuman Kawoos, Dr. Syed Karar, Dr. Deeba Nazir, Dr. Sheikh Javed Ahmad, Dr. Bushra, Dr. Shazia Kouser and Dr. Neelofer were among the participants.
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