As I, along with the citizens of the world’s largest democracy, observe a war-like scenario, my professional and social responsibility as a psychologist researching compassion fatigue , stress and burn out among-st healthcare workers in India and burn awareness advocate—through my role as COO at the Burn Healing Foundation—compels me to reflect on the preparedness of mental health professionals and healthcare workers in India for themselves, the populace, and should the current situation escalate. I have contemplated these perspectives to share in the following article how resilience can be cultivated and the situation navigated as our immediate reality.
A nationwide conflict is not merely a geopolitical crisis; it evolves into a public mental health emergency. Indian psychologists, especially those in North India, bear the compounded responsibility of supporting a population with a profound history of trauma—ranging from the Partition and the 1984 riots to ongoing insurgencies and terrorism. This document delineates a phased strategy: what to do during, after, and in the long-term, while integrating practical tips, cultural tools, global perspectives, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
A war scenario—particularly on a national scale—presents significant psychological, social, and cultural challenges. For Indian psychologists, especially in North India, with its historical and ongoing exposure to trauma stemming from partition, terrorism, and social unrest, preparedness must occur on three levels: during, after, and long-term—while concurrently enhancing their skills within a global mental health framework. Herein lies a breakdown of key priorities and recommendations:
During the War Like Situation : Emergency Psychological Readiness
- Psychologists must be equipped to deliver immediate support, often in high-pressure, resource-constrained environments, with flexible pricing options and an efficient client intake or referral system readily established.
- Psychological First Aid (PFA)
- All psychologists should be trained in PFA—simple, humane, and non-intrusive care.
- Focus on stabilizing emotions, connecting survivors to services, and listening without pressuring to recount the scenarios.
- References from esteemed international professional organizations can be adapted and refined for the Indian context, with Indian mental health professional bodies issuing a comprehensive advisory on Psychological First Aid preparedness.
Support for First Responders and Military Families
- Create support groups or mobile units for doctors, nurses, rescue workers, and families of deployed soldiers.
- Already, the Indian Armed Forces provide a substantial amount of psychological support for soldiers and their families integrated within the defense system. However, the forthcoming assistance that may be required from civilian psychologists could be systematically organized by incorporating independent practicing psychologists and civilian mental health professional organizations to collaborate effectively.
Crisis Counseling in Shelters and Camps
Deliver brief trauma-informed interventions for internally displaced persons (IDPs), especially children and women.
Use of Technology
- Telepsychology for rural/remote or occupied zones.
- Engage with global platforms to implement multilingual, AI-enhanced mental health bots or chat services. Various organizations, such as the A4G Impact Collaborative, of which I am a member, along with other mental health applications and platforms integrated with AI, can facilitate immediate access to professional mental health assistance.
After the War Like Situation : Mid-Term Recovery and Community Healing
Focus shifts to rebuilding identity, trust, and collective safety.
A. Trauma Therapy and Grief Work
Training in evidence-based trauma therapies (EMDR, TF-CBT, narrative exposure therapy).
Special focus on Complex PTSD common in conflict survivors, directly and indirectly exposed population.
B. Community Psychology & Group Therapy
Rebuild social connectedness—run group sessions, community art therapy, shared memorials.
Partner with grassroots organizations and local leaders to co-create culturally sensitive interventions.
C. Youth – Schools & Colleges
Address war’s impact on children’s development, youth’s mental health and educational loss in the areas that might be affected.
Introduce school-based psycho social programs to facilitate adjustment nationwide, as access to information is increasingly available to every child and emotionally vulnerable individuals up to the age of 25.
Long-Term: Trans formative Practice & Global Competence
Psychologists must evolve to meet both local needs and align with global mental health goals.
A. Skill Upgradation
•Global certifications: WHO mhGAP, trauma-informed care, cross-cultural therapy.
•Learn about inter-generational trauma, Eco-anxiety, and mass displacement psychology.
B. Cultural Competence with a Global Lens
•Combine Indian philosophical-psychological approaches (e.g., yoga psychology, Vedanta insights) with Western practices.
•Study post-conflict models from places like Rwanda, Israel-Palestine, and Bosnia.
C. Policy Advocacy & Research
•Be involved in shaping national mental health policy for conflict response as COVID19 & now this should be enough push out to have an unified advisory.
•Conduct longitudinal research on war impact, trauma resilience, and indigenous coping.
D. Self-Care and Professional Resilience
•Ongoing supervision, burnout prevention, and reflective practice for psychologists themselves.
Special Consideration for North Indian Psychologists:
•North India has deep psychological wounds from 1947 Partition, 1984, Kashmir conflict, and terrorist incidents.
• Build historical trauma literacy from existing work and add to the literature with inter-generational narratives of pain, resilience, and identity.
•Address minority stress, collective grief, and moral injury in survivors and practitioners alike.
Practical Tips for Psychologists to Share with the Public
1. Grounding and Self-Regulation (Daily Coping)
- Deep breathing: 4-7-8 technique to reduce panic.
- Name 5 things you can see, 4 feel, 3 hear, 2 smell, 1 taste – grounding for anxiety.
- Routine anchoring : Encourage maintaining small daily rituals (tea time, prayers, journaling).
- Positive Distraction & Meaning-Making
- Promote creative expression: drawing, poetry, folk songs.
- Encourage people to *help others in small ways – boosts agency and connection.
”Keep a hope journal”: note daily moments of beauty, resilience, or gratitude.
- Family-Centric Support
- Mobilize joint family systems for “emotional scaffolding”.
- Assign “listening roles” among family members to promote expression.
Indian Positive Psychology Perspectives
Drawing on culturally rooted psychological strengths:
A. “Welfare of All” , inspired by all religious and spiritual teachings India has to offer that can be integrated in this all encompassing perspective.
Inspire collective purpose: “We get through this by helping one another.”
Use Indian epics and folk tales of resilience (e.g., highlight stories of journey through hardship to purpose).
B. Equanimity
Teach acceptance of dualities: joy-sorrow, gain-loss.
Promote “detached involvement”: being engaged but emotionally centered.
C. Impermanence in Buddhism
Encourage acceptance that current suffering is temporary.
Train people to observe thoughts non-judgmentally.
*D. Yoga & Mindfulness*
As India has bestowed upon the world the profound practices of Yoga and meditation, the observance of International Yoga Day has garnered considerable acclaim in recent years. Engaging in these practices during times of crisis can cultivate a heightened sense of mindfulness, thereby enhancing decision-making capabilities in such challenging circumstances.
Promote basic yoga asanas and pranayama.
Use – bhakti (devotion) and seva (service) emerged as profound therapeutic modalities, which the Indian populace demonstrated remarkable resilience towards during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Collaborating with Doctors & Healthcare Workers
The healthcare professionals will once again find themselves on the frontline, confronting new medical challenges that extend beyond the confines of textbooks. Their ability to navigate these obstacles, coupled with the requisite infrastructural support, will constitute a significant chapter in the evolving narrative of modern Indian healthcare workers. Two areas that will require re training is psychological first aid and burn care first aid.
1. Interdisciplinary Mental Health Teams
Psychologists should embed within hospital units, especially in trauma, ICU, and maternity wards.
Assist with “psychosomatic symptoms”, sleep issues, and emotional crises.
2. Emotional Support for Doctors/Nurses
•Offer “peer-support circles”, active debriefing after critical cases, and short guided meditations in break rooms.
- Re-Train & Re-Enforce Healthcare Workers in Basic PFA & Burn Care Management
- Equip doctors/nurses with scripts and steps to calm agitated patients.
- Create digital handouts on trauma signs, grounding steps, and when to refer.
- Re-Train front-line respondents in the management of burn care for scenarios akin to warfare.
4. Integrate Mental Health into Medical Records
Encourage “routine psychological screening” post-surgery, in burn units, or for war-related trauma injuries.
Keep “joint case files” with notes on emotional progress in long term
Path Ahead
War tests not merely our physical endurance, but also the mental and spiritual fabric of a society. In India, a land steeped in ancient wisdom and resilience, the psychological toll of conflict demands a response that is both rooted in tradition and informed by contemporary science. Indian psychologists must be poised—not solely to heal—but to guide. Alongside the highly trained plastic and burn surgeons of this nation, they play a pivotal role in advocating for community awareness around burn and trauma injuries. Grounded in our ancient wisdom, augmented by contemporary psychology, and interconnected through technology, the path ahead is one of valor, compassion, and collective transformation.
The scars of war extend beyond the battlefield, manifesting in the minds and bodies of survivors. Burn injuries, for instance, result in lifelong physical and psychological scarring, causing pain and influencing mental health, quality of life, and the ability to return to work . Plastic surgeons in India, while addressing the physical aspects, often face burnout themselves, with an overall rate of 8.2%, highlighting the need for systemic support .PMCPMC
In regions like Kashmir, prolonged conflict has led to widespread psychological trauma. Initiatives such as Healing Kashmir, founded by Justine Hardy, aim to address this by providing integrated mental health services that combine traditional healing practices with modern therapy . Such models underscore the importance of culturally sensitive approaches in trauma care.SAGE JournalsWikipedia
Recognizing the multifaceted nature of trauma, the Indian government has initiated programs like the National Program for Prevention & Management of Trauma and Burn. This program promotes training and research in emergency, trauma, and burn care, aiming to develop integrated emergency departments and trauma care facilities for optimal resource utilization .DGHS Health Ministry
However, the journey towards holistic healing necessitates a collaborative approach. Mental health professionals, plastic and burn surgeons, policy makers, civilians, and frontline army and security personnel must unite in this endeavor. By fostering community awareness, sharing knowledge, and integrating services, we can build a resilient society capable of withstanding and recovering from the traumas of war.
In conclusion, healing from the ravages of war is not the sole responsibility of any single group. It is a collective duty that requires the concerted efforts of healthcare professionals, policy makers, and the community at large. By embracing a holistic approach that combines ancient wisdom, contemporary psychology, and technological advancements, India can pave the way for a future marked by resilience, compassion, and collective well-being.
References
- Moi, A. L., Haugsmyr, E., & Heisterkamp, H. (2016). Long-term study of health and quality of life after burn injury. Annals of Burns and Fire Disasters, 29(4), 295–299. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5336608/ResearchGate
- Ahuja, R. B., Bhattacharya, S., & Rai, A. (2023). Indian perspective of burnout among plastic surgeons. Indian Journal of Plastic Surgery, 56(1), 1–7. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10159714/Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
- Justine Hardy. (n.d.). In Wikipedia. Retrieved May 8, 2025, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justine_Hardy
- Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. (n.d.). National Program for Prevention & Management of Trauma and Burn Injuries. Retrieved May 8, 2025, from https://dghs.mohfw.gov.in/national-burn.php
Disclaimer – This begins on a personal cogninanze but is compilied from a lens of professional understanding . this article is first published by the same author on linkedin – https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/resilient-minds-crisis-indian-psychologists-healthcare-aarti-ahuja-jzkoc/?trackingId=OMk6rCuPT0Gmz%2FEDL5bSQQ%3D%3D
It is being re shared to reach a wider community.
Written by – Ms Aarti Ahuja
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