District-Level Mental Health and Drug Prevention Workshop for School Heads Launched in Ferozepur
Ferozepur, January 8, 2026:In a major step towards strengthening student well-being and preventing substance abuse in schools, a District-Level Workshop on Mental Health and Drug Prevention for School Heads was launched in Ferozepur under the campaign “War Against Drugs”. The programme is a joint initiative of SCERT Punjab and the Department of Health & Family Welfare, Punjab, aimed at building safer, healthier, and drug-free school environments across the district.
The three-day batch-wise training programme, conducted with each batch of school heads undergoing one day of training, has been designed to equip school heads with practical understanding and leadership tools to promote mental wellness, early identification of risk behaviours, and effective prevention strategies. The initiative is expected to support the creation of a nurturing and positive school culture, where students feel safe, guided, and supported.
The workshop is being conducted under the guidance of District Education Officer (Secondary Education), Ferozepur, Mrs. Munila Arora, and Deputy District Education Officer (Secondary Education), National Awardee Dr. Satinder Singh. In their message to the participants, they underlined that mental health is central to students’ overall development and emphasized the responsibility of school leadership in ensuring timely support, discipline with sensitivity, and a protective school ecosystem.
On this occasion, Rajiv Prashar, Civil Surgeon, Ferozepur, and Gurmej Ram, Deputy Medical Commissioner, Ferozepur, also shared important insights on balanced mental development and effective strategies for the prevention of drug abuse, emphasizing their critical role in safeguarding the health and well-being of adolescents.
Expert sessions were delivered by Ms. Parmjeet Kaur and Ms. Pranjal Joshi, trainers and psychologists from the Department of Health & Family Welfare. Their sessions focused on key adolescent concerns such as stress, anxiety, behavioural changes, early tendencies toward substance use, psychosocial challenges, academic pressure, and peer pressure, along with their impact on learning, discipline, and health.
A key feature of the programme was its interactive format, including live case studies, real school-based examples, group discussions, and experience-sharing. The sessions helped school heads understand how to identify early warning signs of mental distress or substance dependence, and how early intervention can prevent long-term consequences. Participants were also oriented on effective communication with students, counselling support, parent engagement, and structured feedback and referral mechanisms in coordination with the health department.
The programme also saw active involvement from District Nodal Officer Ashwinder Singh, District Resource Person Parvinder Singh Sodhi, and Lecturer Ms. Rajni Jagga, who contributed through facilitation, practical insights, and field-based recommendations for school-level action.
The successful organization of the workshop was supported by DIET Principal Ms. Seema Panshi, along with Lecturer Gaurav Munjal and Akashveer, who ensured strong academic and administrative coordination.
Speakers reiterated that school heads are key change-makers who can shape a sensitive, supportive, and drug-free school culture. The workshop reflects the shared commitment of the education and health departments towards safeguarding students and strengthening their mental, social, and moral development in District Ferozepur.