Minister Himachal Pradesh said the government would put in place a mental health strategy since mental stress affects 6% of the state’s population

As 6% of the state’s population suffers from mental stress, the Himachal Pradesh government would severely enforce a mental health policy, minister Dhani Ram Shandil said in the Vidhan Sabha on Friday.

The minister of health and family welfare responded to the debate on the private member resolution proposed by Bhawani Singh Pathania (Congress) proposing a policy to enhance the facilities for patients with mental health issues in the state by announcing that the government would assign psychiatrists and counselors to each of the state’s 69 model health institutions.

He said that Tanda Medical College’s Mental Health Hospital will be strengthened and linked drug usage and mental stress to contemporary living.

The Chief Minister stated that efforts have been made in this direction and that on International De-Addiction Day, he had announced the opening of modern de-addiction centers. He also mentioned that a meeting of deputy commissioners was held in this regard, with Secretary Health serving as the chairman, and that instructions were given to identify 30 to 40 bigha suitable lands for the centers in all districts.

Shandil said that as part of the Union government’s “Drugs free India” push, model de-addiction centers with a capacity of 200 to 300 beds will be built in all districts.

He said that the number of people with mental health problems was rising due to increased competition, and that the state and federal governments were collaborating to enhance mental health and fortify the healthcare system.

In moving the motion, Pathania said that because there are an increasing number of student suicides and around 15 lakh mentally disturbed individuals, there should be robust infrastructure developed for those with mental health concerns.

Youth experience mental health issues more often as a result of competitiveness, but they tend to keep their issues to themselves since talking about them is socially stigmatized, he said.

Speaking on the resolution were MLAs Hans Raj, Janak Raj, Hoshiyar Singh, Vinod Sultanpuri, and Vipin Parmar.

Pathania retracted the resolution, satisfied with the minister’s response.