Rohtak launches mental health helpline to offer counselling support

The Health Department has launched a dedicated Mental Health Helpline at the Psychiatry and De-addiction Centre at Civil Hospital Rohtak to support the mental well-being of citizens. The helpline — 8295474838 — would operate Monday to Saturday from 9am to 3pm.

Deputy Commissioner Sachin Gupta, sharing the information, urged people to prioritise mental health, saying “a healthy mind is the foundation of a healthy life.”

“Citizens contacting the helpline will receive proper counselling, guidance and treatment support from psychiatrists and trained counsellors. Anyone experiencing stress, anxiety, insomnia, depression, irritability, panic or any psychological distress can seek help without hesitation,” he said.

Highlighting growing challenges, Gupta said rapidly changing lifestyles, rising competition, social and economic pressures, heavy workloads, family responsibilities, unemployment, financial instability, dependence on mobile phones and social media, lack of sleep and social isolation were major triggers affecting mental balance. The helpline, he said, had been set up to ensure timely support for citizens.

He added that persistent stress, if ignored, could lead to serious mental and physical health issues such as anxiety disorders, depression, panic attacks, low confidence, chronic insomnia, heart problems, high blood pressure, digestive issues and even substance abuse. Social stigma and myths around mental illness, he said, still prevented people from seeking timely help.

Civil Surgeon Dr Ramesh Chander said the helpline was a vital step towards accessible mental healthcare. “Anyone facing stress, anxiety or emotional difficulties can receive confidential, professional support,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Rohtak administration has begun a comprehensive overhaul of higher education, directing all government and private colleges to realign teaching, training and student engagement with market and industry needs.

Chairing a review meeting with principals of colleges and Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), Gupta called for a shift towards skill-centric, outcome-based learning to prepare youth for emerging employment opportunities.

He said institutions must move beyond traditional classroom teaching and build capacities that directly influence employability, entrepreneurial readiness and social confidence.