Comprehensive review on psychological impact of lockdown and communication blockade due to COVID-19 pandemic on Kashmiri population

The 2019 COVID-19 pandemic received an unmatched global attention due to its huge devastation and loss of life.  COVID-19 is a life threatening lethal infection caused by one of the corona virus strains. The outburst was initially revealed in late December 2019 when large number of pneumonia cases of mysterious etiology was found in the Chinese city of Wuhan of Hubei Province. The WHO also formally declared COVID-19 outbreak as pandemic on 11 May 2020. Almost entire world is facing complete lockdown these days and, in these circumstances, Kashmir is no exception. Earlier, Kashmir was under lockdown for about 6 months due the abrogation of article 370. However, the current lockdown is very terrifying as there is threat to life due an invisible pathogen which can only be avoided staying home. Kashmir has previously reported an extensive frequency of mental health crisis due political turmoil. COVID-19 pandemic has not only added miseries to the lives of Kashmir people but continuous lockdown and frequent communication blockade has worsened the mental health crisis of local populace. The people of Kashmir who are suffering from mental health problem have increase sense of insecurity about themselves. Their apprehension of uncertainty has increased due to current crisis of COVID-19 pandemic. Their uncertainty is now increasing day by day and we are not so far that Kashmir will become global centre of mental health crisis. Conclusively, it is not only the mental health patients who are suffering in this lockdown and communication gag due to COVID-19 pandemic but it’s also taking a huge toll on the normal populace in general and health care workers in particular. This review comprehensively provides the significant and organized exploration of the narrative on the psychological distress due to COVID-19 lockdown and frequent communication gags experienced by mental health patients in particular as well as common people and healthcare workers in general living in Kashmir valley.