Punjab Govt Launches 'Sangat' Mental Health Clubs Across 40 Colleges to Curb Youth Addiction
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In a targeted move to tackle the deep-seated menace of youth substance abuse from its psychological roots, the Punjab government has officially rolled out 'Sangat' mental health clubs across 40 premier colleges statewide as a central pillar of its 'War Against Drugs' campaign. Spearheaded by the Department of Higher Education in strategic partnership with the Aditya Birla Education Trust (ABET) and its mental health initiative Mpower, the program was inaugurated at Plaksha University in Mohali on Friday, October 23, 2026. The statewide project aims to dismantle social taboos surrounding psychiatric well-being, equip college campuses with institutional support systems, and cultivate peer-led safety nets capable of identifying early signs of severe depression, trauma, and vulnerability to narcotics before they escalate into chronic addiction.
High-Profile Launch at Plaksha University: Leaders Call for Destigmatizing Mental Distress
The launch symposium convened top education leaders, policy figures, and youth icons to drive candid conversations around adolescent emotional strain:
Leadership Call to Action: Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains and former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia engaged directly with student leaders, emphasizing that educational campuses must serve as non-judgmental shelters that dismantle shame around seeking psychiatric intervention.
The Arjuna Analogy by Harjot Bains: Highlighting that mental battles spare no one, Minister Bains noted that even the legendary warrior Arjuna grappled with emotional turmoil despite having Lord Krishna by his side, proving that youth require mentors and supportive camaraderie rather than isolation.
Celebrity Voices for Youth Advocacy: The inaugural event featured youth advocate and Yuva co-founder Nikhil Taneja alongside Bollywood actor Aparshakti Khurana, who urged students to cultivate open spaces for empathy, with celebrated Punjabi comedian Manpreet Singh ('The Comic Singh') adding a spirited performance.
ABET Partnership: Certified First-Aid Training for 25 Students per Campus
The operational framework of 'Sangat' clubs is built around structured peer-to-peer early intervention mechanics:
14-Hour Youth Mental Health First Aid: Under the curriculum designed by ABET, 25 selected student ambassadors from each of the 40 participating colleges will undergo intensive 14-hour Youth Mental Health First Aid training and receive official certification.
Bridging the Clinical Gap: Trained student champions will learn to spot subtle behavioral deviations, offer empathetic first-line listening, and guide distressed peers toward verified professional counselors and clinical helplines.
Neerja Birla on Root Causes: Neerja Birla, Founder and Chairperson of Aditya Birla Education Trust and Mpower, underscored that substance abuse rarely emerges in isolation, pointing out that unchecked emotional distress and untreated psychological pain serve as the primary conduits feeding chemical dependency.
Transforming Campus Culture: Peer Support and Eradication of Substance Abuse
The campus-level mandate focuses on continuous engagement to ensure sustainable behavioral change across Punjab’s student ecosystem:
Interactive On-Campus Modules: Sangat clubs will organize roundtables, workshops, and expressive arts sessions designed to destigmatize clinical counseling, talk therapy, and emotional vulnerability among college students.
Breaking the Peer Pressure Loop: By redefining strength through peer assistance rather than drug experimentation, the initiative directly challenges dangerous campus subcultures that normalize substance abuse as a badge of pride.
Long-Term Preventive Architecture: Combining institutional mental health resources with certified student networks creates an ongoing, campus-level barrier that protects vulnerable youth from illicit drug cartels and strengthens the generational fabric of Punjab.
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