Army taking effective measures to reduce stress among troops

Underscoring that it was taking effective measures to reduce "stress" among troops in J&K, army today launched a major programme on dealing with mental health challenges faced by troops in counter-insurgency operations.

"The armed forces have insight into the mental health challenges being faced by troops and is taking effective measures to reduce stress (among personnel) in J&K," head of medicine department (HOM), Northern Command Hospital, Udhampur, Maj Gen Harinder Singh said at the inauguration of the programme in Udhampur, 65 kms from here.

The two-day Continued Medical Education (CME) programme was launched by Northern Command Chief, Lt Gen BS Jaswal at Command Hospital (Northern Command). 

Singh said they were looking into various aspects, including "prevention, early detection, management and rehabilitation. Mental health education is being actively carried out to develop awareness in this field."

Maj Gen DS Pathania, Commandant of the Command Hospital, noted that stress related disorders were on the rise in the society.

"Both medical and non-medical fraternity should be aware of early changes in behaviour in a person to prevent drastic complication of such disorder," he said adding that early diagnosis and management of stress related and other psychiatric disorders were needed.

"Lack of awareness and stigma attached to it (mental illness) further compounds the problem," he said and stressed on eduation and awareness to check the "silent epidemic". 

The programme is being attended by more than 100 military and civil delegates from across the country.