Chandigarh, Feb 20: Punjab’s, Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. Balbir Singh convened a high-level expert meeting on Wednesday to formulate a comprehensive Mental Health Policy.
The meeting, themed “Punjab’s Journey to Wellness: With Psychological Well-Being,” highlighted the Bhagwant Singh Mann-led government’s assurance to address drug abuse through an exhaustive approach centered on mental health and wellness.
Dr. Balbir Singh underscored that psychological well-being is crucial for preventing addiction and announced that all sections of society including schoolchildren, farmers, recent deportees, and laborers will receive counseling to curb drug abuse tendencies.
Acknowledging the Punjab Police’s efforts in controlling drug supply, the Minister urged more frequent use of rehabilitation provisions under Section 64-A for arrested drug users to aid their reintegration into society. He also announced plans to establish 4-5 new rehabilitation centers in collaboration with religious organizations and set up Community Support Groups to provide counseling to youth and their families.
To eliminate the stigma associated with drug addiction, Dr. Singh stressed the importance of treating drug users with empathy and providing them with skill development and employment opportunities for sustainable recovery. He asserted that Punjab’s new de-addiction policy would position the state as a leader in combating drug abuse.
Principal Secretary Health Kumar Rahul assured the full implementation of government policies. The event featured four-panel discussions on de-addiction programs, skill development, mental health policy, and stress management.
Senior officials, including ADGP Nilabh Kishore, medical experts from AIIMS and PGI, Punjab Development Commission member Anurag Kundu, and representatives from Narcotics Anonymous, attended the meeting to deliberate on strengthening Punjab’s mental health initiatives.
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