Research shows that in 1996, 73 per cent of psychiatric patients visited a faith healer before seeking medical help. The implications of this brain evolution, he warned, are myriad, from sociopathies to criminality to adverse mental health outcomes. With only a handful of specialists for a population of over 12 million, Kashmir’s mental health system is still under siege. Policy GapsFor all its suffering and sacrifice, Kashmir’s mental health sector remains trapped in neglect. Faith leaders, teachers, and media personalities can play a transformative role in normalising conversations about mental health.