Chandigarh, August 17, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
More than three-fourths of the beneficiaries who received cashless mental-health treatment under Punjab’s Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana (MMSY) during the available seven-month period were aged between 18 and 45, highlighting the importance of timely and affordable mental healthcare for the state’s working-age population.
According to data from the State Health Agency (SHA), Punjab, as of August 11, 2026, a total of 709 beneficiaries had received mental-health treatment under the scheme, involving treatment worth ₹83.36 lakh.
Of these, 284 beneficiaries were in the 31–45 age group and 249 were aged 18–30. Together, the two groups accounted for 533 beneficiaries, or 75.2 per cent of the total.
Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Balbir Singh said mental healthcare should not become a luxury that families seek only when they can afford it. “If someone needs professional help, the focus should be on getting that person the right care at the right time,” he said.
The SHA data covers a range of conditions, including neurotic and stress-related disorders, mood and affective disorders, behavioural syndromes associated with physiological and physical factors, and mental and behavioural disorders linked to psychoactive substance use. The treatment pattern underlines the need to address both common mental-health conditions and disorders associated with substance use.
Dr Gagandeep Sekhon, MD Psychiatry and Consultant Psychiatrist at Civil Hospital, Barnala, said the 18–45 age group was particularly important from a mental-health perspective as people in this phase often build careers, manage relationships, raise families and shoulder significant financial responsibilities.
“Mental health concerns are often ignored until they begin to interfere with daily functioning, by which time they are harder to manage,” Dr Sekhon added.
The data also points to the close relationship between mental health and substance use, giving added relevance to Punjab’s Yudh Nashean Virudh campaign. Substance dependence can have psychological, behavioural and social consequences and may require sustained professional treatment, de-addiction and rehabilitation.
Dr Balbir Singh said the Bhagwant Mann-led government was working to make healthcare more accessible and affordable, with particular attention to the health and wellbeing of youth. He said MMSY provides a ₹10 lakh cashless cover per family per year and includes mental healthcare, helping reduce financial hesitation in seeking treatment.
He added that Yudh Nashean Virudh strengthens prevention, de-addiction and rehabilitation, while CM Di Yogshala promotes accessible wellness practices.
Together, the three initiatives form complementary elements of Punjab’s broader mental-health response, covering prevention and healthy living as well as de-addiction, rehabilitation and access to professional treatment.
With more than three out of every four mental-health beneficiaries under MMSY belonging to the 18–45 age group, timely access to care could be particularly significant for the health, productivity and wellbeing of Punjab’s working-age population.
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