Srinagar, Jul 24 (KNO): Srinagar is fast becoming the new Kota of the north, with thousands of students migrating from across Kashmir every year to chase dreams of cracking competitive exams. However, behind the glossy billboards and toppers’ photos lies a darker, often unspoken reality—a growing mental health emergency among young aspirants.
Speaking to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Dr Mohd Abrar Guroo, a well-known psychiatrist based in Srinagar, said these crises unfold every day.
“They don’t talk about academics when they come for treatment. They talk about chest pain, insomnia, panic attacks, and overwhelming anxiety," he said. "Most of these students live alone in small accommodations and hostels, away from families and emotional support. The rooms smell more of loneliness than freedom."
Dr Guroo shared the case of a 17-year-old boy from Shopian who believed he was having a heart attack. The real cause: extreme anxiety and isolation. “He hadn’t spoken to anyone for two days. His roommate was a stranger," the doctor said.
A young girl from Baramulla, following a 12-hour study regimen, confessed: “I don’t manage anything. The institute manages me.”
The intense atmosphere of Srinagar’s coaching culture is now being compared to Kota, the coaching capital of India, known for its staggering student pressure.
Dr Abrar terms these students “invisible dropouts”—those who haven’t failed exams, but have mentally checked out long before the tests. “They suppress emotions, equating vulnerability with weakness. Many are suffering silently, putting on a brave face,” he said.
With no emotional anchor, many students adopt maladaptive coping strategies. “Some start smoking, using cannabis, abusing prescription sedatives, or fall into online addictions,” Dr Guroo said. “They aren’t delinquents—they’re exhausted children without a support system.”
Dr Abrar, along with other psychiatrists, made a strong appeal for collective responsibility. "Coaching centres must cut back on inhumane schedules and provide in-house counsellors. Hostels and PGs should create spaces that encourage interaction and peer bonding. Parents must prioritise emotional check-ins over report cards, while authorities need to regulate the sector by ensuring transparency, registration, and mental health provisions."
They said a student’s worth isn’t defined by a rank or a result. “Struggling or feeling low isn’t a failure. It’s part of the process,” Dr Guroo said.
He warned, “The real cost of this obsession might be our children’s emotional well-being.”
“We celebrate the toppers, but it’s time we also see those who are silently falling apart—and support them before it’s too late," Dr Guroo added—(KNO)