Anxiety and its correlates among youth in Kashmir: A cross-sectional study

Introduction: The present study was undertaken to study the anxiety patterns among youth in Kashmir.
Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conduct among 400 youth of the Kashmir Valley aged 15-30 years using multistage random sampling method. Respondents were drawn from the educational institutions (Higher secondary institutions, Govt. Degree Colleges and Universities of the valley) after obtaining consent from them. Apart from the self-designed structured questionnaire, standardized anxiety scales namely “Screen for Child Anxiety Related Disorders (SCARED)” and “Screen for Adult Anxiety Related Disorders (SCAARED)” were used to achieve the objective of the study.
Results: 143(35.75%) study subjects were found to have anxiety disorder. A significant association was found between anxiety and various demographic variables such as gender, occupational status, income and victimization because of conflict. Comparatively, higher prevalence of anxiety was recorded among males, smokers, unemployed ones, lower wealth quintals, rural dwellers and victims of conflict.
Conclusion: Poor health system and non-detection/under detection of Common Mental Health disorders (CMDs) are responsible for the gap in the treatment of mental disorders. Early detection of the mental health disorders can be achieved by integrating the routine screening of mental health care with primary care. Community based mental health programmes is the need of the hour. Ensuring ample resources for youth so as to enable them to fulfill their potential and contribute fully to their individual and collective development. The gap between the allocation of resources for mental health and actual burden ought to be bridged.