Helpline launched at Rohtak PGIMS to fight drug addiction

Dr HK Aggarwal, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Health Sciences, Rohtak (UHSR), has launched the Addiction Prevention Community Helpline (01262-299091) at the PGIMS to offer telephonic assistance and guidance to individuals struggling with mental health and substance abuse issues. Marking a major step forward in the state’s mental health care infrastructure, Dr Aggarwal also laid the foundation stone for the Advanced Psychiatry Block – Centre of Excellence at the Institute of Mental Health (IMH), PGIMS, on Friday.

“The new centre will feature advanced facilities, including a neuromodulation therapy unit, a digital academy, a telepsychiatry studio and a cutting-edge AI-enabled laboratory for modern psychiatric treatment. It will bring significant relief to patients by integrating new-age technologies like artificial intelligence into mental health care,” said Dr Aggarwal while addressing faculty, students and health professionals.

While visiting a poster exhibition at the PGIMS OPD, he remarked, “Stress is becoming increasingly common in our lives today, mainly due to the lack of real-world human interaction. We’re living more in a virtual world than the real one. It’s important to reduce screen time and spend meaningful moments with family and friends.” PGIMS Director Dr SK Singhal said, “Nuclear families, unlike joint families, lack emotional cushioning. We are connecting more with virtual ‘social media families’ that fail to offer real mental support. This helpline can prevent individuals from making impulsive, harmful decisions in such moments. Dr Rajiv Gupta, Director-cum-CEO of the IHM, said the poster exhibition aimed to raise awareness around mental health resilience. “Natural calamities in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand are a stark reminder of the need for psychological preparedness in emergencies. A mentally strong society is the foundation of a safe one,” he said.

Dr Kundan Mittal, Medical Superintendent of the PGIMS, highlighted the advanced care the upcoming centre will offer. Dr MG Vashisht, Dean, Academic Affairs, emphasised the importance of early intervention: “Be it academic pressure, job stress or family-related issues, mental health must be given priority and help should be sought in time.”