New Delhi, July 31 -- The Punjab government is preparing to expand its Leadership in Mental Health Programme (LMHP), a fellowship launched earlier this year to strengthen rehabilitation and mental healthcare under its anti-drug campaign. Applications for the second cohort are expected to open in early August as the state seeks to deploy trained professionals across all districts.

Launched in February 2026, the programme forms part of the state's "Yudh Nashean Virudh" initiative and is designed to integrate mental healthcare into the broader response to substance abuse. According to the government, the first batch of 13 fellows is currently working in district hospitals, de-addiction centres and rehabilitation facilities.

The initiative ...