• Health Minister interacts with pioneering batch of LMHP Fellows, calls them “lighthouses” in the fight against drugs
• Describes addiction as a “stormy sea,” and the fellows as the guiding light for those struggling
Chandigarh, February 19:
In a significant push to strengthen the mental health and de-addiction ecosystem across the state, Punjab Health Minister Dr Balbir Singh engaged with the pioneering batch of Leadership in Mental Health Programme (LMHP) fellows, underscoring the government’s unwavering commitment to combat addiction and bolster mental well-being through the ongoing anti-drugs Yudh Nashian Virudh campaign.
During the interaction, held here at Punjab Kisan Bhawan, Dr Balbir Singh described the LMHP fellows as “lighthouses” in Punjab’s determined fight against substance abuse. Drawing a powerful analogy, he stated that a person struggling with addiction is like “the sea during a storm — turbulent and directionless.” He added that just as a lighthouse guides ships safely to shore, the LMHP fellows will guide individuals and families towards recovery and stability.
The Health Minister emphasised that the responsibility entrusted to the fellows is both significant and transformative. He noted that while the journey will demand patience, resilience and compassion, the reward of seeing individuals reclaim their lives from addiction is immeasurable. He further highlighted that the fellows are being embedded within the public health architecture to strengthen systems, standardise processes, enhance monitoring mechanisms and build institutional capacity across districts.
Describing the Leadership in Mental Health Programme as a pioneering initiative, Dr Balbir Singh said it is India’s first fellowship dedicated exclusively to addressing substance abuse through systemic mental health strengthening. 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, OOAT centres and district administrations.
He further informed that the fellows will also actively engage with schools, colleges and communities to prevent the initiation of drug use among youth, thereby integrating prevention, treatment and rehabilitation within a comprehensive public health framework.
Dr Balbir Singh underscored that drug abuse is not merely a Punjab-specific issue but a national public health challenge that requires sustained and structural intervention. He expressed confidence that the LMHP model has the potential to emerge as a replicable framework for other states across the country.
Highlighting the broader vision of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann’s led Punjab Government, he stated that the state has prioritised health, education and access to clean drinking water as key benchmarks of human development. Strengthening mental health services and combating substance abuse, he added, remain integral components of this vision of equitable and accessible public health for all.
The Health Minister extended his best wishes to the fellows, expressing hope that they would uphold the highest standards of professional and ethical excellence and contribute meaningfully to Punjab’s ongoing battle against addiction.
