Srinagar, April 28 -- A boy in Kashmir learns a hard social lesson very early in life. Tears stay hidden, fear stays private, and pain belongs inside the chest. A "strong" man speaks less, absorbs more, and reveals little.

That idea of masculinity now feeds one of Kashmir's most overlooked social problems.

Young men in the valley live under enormous emotional pressure. Unemployment remains high, while competition for jobs grows harsher every year. Financial pressure weighs heavily on families. Social media floods young minds with images of aggressive masculinity built around dominance, money, physical toughness, and emotional detachment.

Many boys grow into adulthood believing that vulnerability weakens their worth.

Doctors and mental...