“War Against Drugs”
Workshops empower School Heads to lead mental health and prevention efforts: DEO
136 School Heads trained in 3-Day Workshop on ‘Mental Health and Prevention Efforts’
Ferozepur, January 9, 2026: Under the "War Against Drugs" (Yuddh Nashyan Viruddh) campaign, a specialized district-level training workshop was organized at DIET Ferozepur, where 136 school heads were equipped with vital skills in mental health awareness and drug prevention. This collaborative initiative by SCERT Punjab and the Department of Health and Family Welfare, Punjab, is in its final phase, aiming to transform schools across the district into safe, sensitive, and drug-free zones.
By focusing on real-world school scenarios and live case studies, the 136 school heads were trained to implement immediate school-level interventions before issues escalate into serious addictions.
The workshop was conducted under the leadership of District Education Officer (Secondary Education) Ferozepur, Mrs. Munila Arora, and Deputy DEO (SE), National Awardee Dr. Satinder Singh. Addressing the participants, DEO Munila Arora emphasized that student well-being and the prevention of substance abuse must be the primary focus of school leadership. She urged the heads to build a supportive school culture where students feel safe to seek guidance without fear or social stigma.
The sessions focused on the timely identification of behavioural changes, empathetic communication, and the necessity of school-level intervention before problems escalate. Through interactive discussions and real-life case studies, school heads were trained to make practical decisions in challenging situations.
The workshop also provided a roadmap for involving parents and utilizing government helplines. School leaders were instructed on how to establish referral mechanisms with health professionals, ensuring that any student showing vulnerability receives prompt and responsible care.
The program was successfully executed with the guidance of DIET Principal Mrs. Seema Panchhi and the administrative support of District Nodal Officer Mr. Ashwinder Singh, District Resource Person Parvinder Singh Sodhi, and lecturers Rajni Jagga, Gaurav Munjal, and Akashveer.