Doomscrolling, fear and dread: Away from frontlines, India-Pak tensions take toll on mental health

Pakistan was nothing but a name for seven-year-old Hazel till earlier this week. Now she grows suspicious with every knock on the door and breaks down at the thought of impending doom. “It all started when her school had an awareness session and then she heard things from her friends in the class. Now she wants me to be careful before opening the door. She says ‘Pakistan will attack us’ and everyone will die,” said Annu Mathew, who is having a difficult time explaining to her daughter that she is in no direct danger in Kerala’s Trivandrum.

Young…