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@article{197597,
        author = {Dr. Kashi Nath Pandey},
        title = {The Effects of War on Mental Health in India},
        journal = {International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology},
        year = {2026},
        volume = {12},
        number = {11},
        pages = {6576-6581},
        issn = {2349-6002},
        url = {https://ijirt.org/article?manuscript=197597},
        abstract = {The present study investigates the psychological consequences of war on mental health among Indian civilians, employing a robust pre-test and post-test design to capture the shifts in psychological well-being due to conflict exposure. A total of 200 participants (100 males and 100 females) were carefully selected to ensure gender parity and were assessed using the Mental Health Inventory developed by Dr. Jagdish and Dr. A.K. Srivastava, a widely recognized tool for measuring mental health in the Indian context. This inventory evaluates multiple domains, including emotional stability, anxiety, depression, self-concept, and general adjustment.
Before exposure to conflict-related stimuli or environments, participants exhibited baseline mental health scores within a normative range. However, post-test findings revealed significant declines across all domains, most notably in areas of emotional stability and anxiety levels. Statistical analyses confirmed that these changes were not due to random variation but reflected genuine deterioration attributable to the war environment. Women, in particular, displayed heightened vulnerability in the domains of anxiety and emotional distress, while men showed significant drops in overall adjustment and self-concept.
These results underscore the profound psychological toll that war imposes on civilians, even those not directly involved in combat. The trauma of witnessing violence, experiencing displacement, and living in a climate of persistent fear can lead to long-term mental health challenges. This study affirms the urgent need for structured, culturally relevant mental health interventions in war-affected regions of India. These may include trauma-informed therapy, community-based counselling programs, and the integration of mental health services into emergency response systems. Furthermore, gender-sensitive approaches are recommended to address the unique psychological needs of both men and women affected by armed conflict. In conclusion, war has far-reaching impacts beyond the battlefield, and addressing civilian mental health must be a core component of post-conflict rehabilitation and policy planning in India.},
        keywords = {War, Mental Health, Male, Female, India.},
        month = {April},
        }