Srinagar, Oct. 3 -- These aren't rare medical notes anymore. They've become lived realities in Kashmiri homes today.

What changed so suddenly, and derailed our sense of normalcy?

Materially, life has become easier. Most families have more comforts, better access to education, and improved healthcare compared to the past. Even then, mental illness has risen sharply.

According to the Srinagar-based Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (IMHANS), nearly 11 percent of Kashmir's population suffers from depression and 19 percent from anxiety disorders. Buy vitamins and supplements

These numbers are higher than the national average, a grim reminder of how social upheaval, unemployment, and cultural disconnection weigh heavily on min...