Punjab Launches SANGAT Mental Health Clubs in 40 Colleges

The Punjab government reportedly launched SANGAT Mental Health Clubs in 40 colleges on 22 October 2026. The initiative aims to improve youth wellbeing, encourage early intervention and help prevent substance abuse among young people.

The programme is part of Punjab’s “Yudh Nashean Virudh” (War Against Drugs) campaign. It is led by the Department of Higher Education in partnership with the Aditya Birla Education Trust (ABET) and Mpower.

Key Highlights

• State: Punjab
• Programme: SANGAT Mental Health Clubs
• Launch date: 22 October 2026
• Coverage: 40 colleges
• Training: 14-hour Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) course
• Students per college: 25
• Total planned student places: 1,000
• Launch venue: Plaksha University, Mohali
• Campaign: Yudh Nashean Virudh — “War Against Drugs”

Youth Mental Health and Early Intervention

Under the programme, each participating college is scheduled to train 25 students through a 14-hour Youth Mental Health First Aid course. Participants will receive certification and learn to recognise signs of emotional distress and provide initial peer support.

The clubs will also organise campus activities to encourage open discussions about emotional wellbeing and discourage substance use.

What Is Mental Health First Aid?

Mental health first aid involves recognising signs of emotional distress and offering initial, supportive assistance. It is not a substitute for professional diagnosis or treatment by qualified mental-health practitioners.

Key elements include:

1. Recognising possible signs of distress.
2. Offering respectful, non-judgmental initial support.
3. Encouraging access to appropriate professional services.
4. Promoting awareness and reducing stigma around seeking help.

Programme Structure and Training

Particular	Details
Participating colleges	40
Planned students per college	25
Total planned student places	1,000
Course	Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA)
Course duration	14 hours
Main objectives	Youth wellbeing, early intervention and substance-abuse prevention

Launch Event and Earlier Training

The launch event was held at Plaksha University in Mohali. According to the supplied report, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains and former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia interacted with student participants.

Before the statewide launch, Punjabi University in Patiala began a three-day Youth Mental Health and Psychological First Aid Training for SANGAT club members on 29 September 2026.

Punjab’s Earlier Drug-Prevention Measures

The SANGAT initiative complements other education-sector measures aimed at preventing substance abuse.

Measure	Reported details
College teacher training	146 college teachers trained as drug-prevention nodal officers in December 2025
School anti-drug curriculum	A 14-week curriculum implemented in 3,600 government secondary schools by October 2025
Student reach	More than 750,000 students covered by the school-level curriculum, according to the supplied report