As conversations around mental health gain momentum in Jammu and Kashmir, community-led peer support initiatives are creating safe spaces where young people can share experiences, build resilience and challenge the stigma surrounding emotional well-being. Mir Suneem reports.

On a warm Saturday morning at Srinagar’s Polo Ground Park, a circle of young people gathered not for a lecture, competition or cultural event, but for something far less visible and increasingly important – a conversation.

There were no white coats, clinical settings or formal counselling sessions. Instead, participants introduced themselves through creative exercises, sketched symbolic rivers tracing the course of their lives, and took part in games designed not merely to entertain but to encourage reflection, empathy and trust.

The gathering was the fourth chapter of “Let’s Connect”, a community-based mental health initiative organised by the Jammu and Kashmir Centre for Peace and Justice (JKCPJ). At first glance, the programme resembled an informal youth meet-up. Beneath its relaxed atmosphere, however, lay a growing recognition that emotional well-being is shaped not only by professional mental health services but also by the quality of human relationships and the availability of supportive communities.

Across Jammu and Kashmir, conversations around mental health have become increasingly visible in recent years. Educational institutions, healthcare professionals, civil society organisations and youth groups have intensified efforts to encourage discussions on anxiety, stress, depression and emotional resilience—subjects that, until recently, were often confined to private spaces or overlooked altogether.

Mental health professionals say such conversations are particularly significant for young people, who frequently encounter academic pressures, career uncertainty, social expectations and the influence of an increasingly digital world. While specialised psychological care remains essential for many mental health conditions, experts also point to the value of preventive approaches that strengthen emotional awareness and reduce the isolation that often accompanies psychological distress.

It is within this broader context that initiatives such as “Let’s Connect” seek to position themselves.

Rather than replacing professional mental health services, organisers describe the programme as an opportunity to create environments where participants feel comfortable speaking openly, listening without judgement and recognising that emotional struggles are neither unusual nor something to be faced alone.

The session at Polo Ground Park reflected that philosophy through a series of carefully designed interactive activities.

One exercise encouraged participants to introduce themselves by sharing aspects of their identity beyond routine personal details, helping establish trust within the group. Another invited them to draw a river representing different stages of their lives, prompting reflection on personal challenges, achievements and aspirations. A collaborative activity known as the “Ice Water Game” focused on communication, teamwork and emotional regulation under mild pressure.

Though simple in appearance, each activity sought to encourage participants to express themselves in ways that conventional conversations often do not.

Organisers say creative engagement frequently allows young people to articulate emotions that may otherwise remain unspoken.

“Mental health begins with connection,” said JKCPJ Director Nadir Ali. “Through ‘Let’s Connect’, we aim to create spaces where people feel heard, understood and empowered to support one another. Peer support reminds us that healing becomes easier when no one has to face their struggles alone.”

His remarks reflect an approach increasingly recognised within public mental health programmes worldwide, where community participation is viewed as an important complement to clinical care.

Research has consistently shown that strong social connections can contribute to improved emotional well-being, encourage help-seeking behaviour and reduce feelings of loneliness. While peer support cannot substitute professional diagnosis or treatment where required, it often serves as an accessible first step for individuals hesitant to seek formal assistance.

That hesitation remains one of the most persistent challenges in mental healthcare.

Mental health practitioners have long observed that stigma continues to discourage many individuals from discussing emotional difficulties or approaching trained professionals. Concerns about social judgement, misconceptions surrounding mental illness and limited awareness of available services often delay intervention until problems become more severe.

Community programmes seek to address those barriers by normalising conversations around emotional well-being in familiar, non-clinical settings.

Participants at the Srinagar session said the experience offered exactly that.

Fadil, one of those attending, described the programme as an opportunity for self-discovery as much as social interaction.

“Today’s session helped me understand myself in a new way,” he said. “The activities were simple yet meaningful, and connecting with others made me realise that everyone has a story. It was comforting to be part of a space where we could learn, listen and support each other without judgment.”

His observation echoes a principle that underpins many peer support initiatives—that people often find reassurance in recognising shared experiences.

While individual circumstances differ, the knowledge that others have navigated similar emotional challenges can reduce feelings of isolation and encourage resilience.

For young people especially, such environments may also strengthen interpersonal skills increasingly viewed as essential to overall well-being.

Listening attentively, expressing emotions constructively, respecting different perspectives and building healthy relationships are abilities that extend beyond mental health into education, workplaces and community life. Interactive group programmes attempt to cultivate these qualities through participation rather than instruction, allowing individuals to learn collaboratively rather than passively receiving information.

The setting itself can also influence the experience.

Holding the programme in an open public park rather than a formal institutional environment subtly reinforced the organisers’ message that conversations around mental health belong within communities rather than behind closed doors. Public spaces, organisers say, can help reduce the perception that discussions about emotional well-being are reserved only for moments of crisis.

Across India, community-centred mental health initiatives have gained increasing attention as policymakers and healthcare professionals recognise that expanding access requires approaches extending beyond hospitals and clinics.

The National Mental Health Programme, educational institutions and numerous civil society organisations have all emphasised awareness, early intervention and community participation alongside clinical services. In Jammu and Kashmir, where various organisations have introduced counselling services, awareness campaigns and youth outreach programmes, community engagement is emerging as an important element of broader mental health advocacy.

Programmes like “Let’s Connect” illustrate how relatively modest interventions can contribute to that effort.

They require few resources compared with institutional healthcare services, yet they create opportunities for individuals to establish supportive relationships, develop greater emotional literacy and identify when professional assistance may be necessary.

Such initiatives are not presented as comprehensive solutions to the complex challenges surrounding mental health. Rather, they represent one component of a wider ecosystem in which families, schools, healthcare providers, community organisations and peer networks each play distinct but complementary roles.

As conversations around mental health continue to evolve, organisers believe sustained engagement will prove more valuable than one-time awareness campaigns.

Accordingly, JKCPJ plans to continue the “Let’s Connect” series through future community sessions across Jammu and Kashmir, focusing on self-awareness, resilience and peer support among young people.

Whether measured through stronger friendships, increased willingness to seek help or simply the confidence to begin conversations once considered difficult, the impact of such programmes may emerge gradually rather than immediately.

Yet perhaps their greatest contribution lies in changing the nature of those conversations themselves.

For generations, mental health was frequently discussed only after visible distress had already taken hold. Increasingly, initiatives like “Let’s Connect” suggest a different approach—one that begins much earlier, with empathy, shared experiences and the simple act of listening.

In a society where many young people continue to navigate personal, academic and social pressures, creating spaces where they can speak openly, reflect honestly and support one another may prove as valuable as any formal intervention. Sometimes, the first step towards emotional well-being is not finding all the answers, but discovering that no one has to ask the questions alone.

About the Author

Mir Suneem is a filmmaker and a postgraduate in filmmaking from Jamia Millia Islamia. With a strong grounding in film editing and narrative craft, she is drawn to stories the frame extends beyond the visible into the lived.