Punjab health minister interacts with leadership in mental health programme fellows

Chandigarh: In a move aimed at strengthening the mental health and de-addiction ecosystem in the state, Punjab health minister Dr Balbir Singh interacted with the batch of leadership in mental health programme fellows.During the interaction, Dr Balbir Singh described the fellows as "lighthouses" in Punjab's fight against substance abuse. Using an analogy, he said a person struggling with addiction is like "the sea during a storm, turbulent and directionless", and added that just as a lighthouse guides ships safely to shore, the fellows would help individuals and families move towards recovery and stability.
The Health minister said the responsibility entrusted to the fellows is both significant and transformative. He noted that the journey would require patience, resilience and compassion, but added that helping individuals reclaim their lives from addiction would be deeply rewarding. He stated that the fellows are being embedded within the public health system to strengthen processes, improve monitoring and build institutional capacity across districts. Describing the Leadership in Mental Health Programme as a pioneering initiative, Dr Balbir Singh said it is a fellowship dedicated to addressing substance abuse by strengthening mental health systems. The programme, designed in collaboration with the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, deploys trained mental health professionals across districts to provide supervision, capacity building, monitoring and coordination support to de-addiction centres, outpatient opioid assisted treatment centres and district administrations. He added that the fellows would also engage with schools, colleges and communities to help prevent the initiation of drug use among young people, integrating prevention, treatment and rehabilitation within a public health framework. Dr Balbir Singh said that drug abuse is a wider public health challenge requiring sustained and structural intervention. He expressed confidence that the model could serve as a framework for other states. MSID:: 128560409 413 |