National Mental Health Survey Begins in Chandigarh to Assess Well-Being

A new National Mental Health Survey (NMHS-2) has started in Chandigarh to collect updated data on mental health conditions in the city. This survey is being conducted by the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH-32) and is funded by the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru. The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is also supporting the project.

As part of the survey, trained staff will visit homes in Chandigarh to ask residents about their mental health. This will help researchers understand how common mental health issues are and what kind of support people need. The last such survey, NMHS-1, was conducted in 2015-16. The new survey aims to collect more detailed information, which will help policymakers design better mental health programs.

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Officials support the initiative

The survey was officially launched at Sood Bhawan, with several important officials in attendance. Mayor Harpreet Kaur Babla was the chief guest at the event. Other key officials present included GMCH Director Principal Dr. A.K. Attri, Medical Superintendent Dr. G.P. Thami, and State Nodal Officer Dr. Ajeet Sidana.

Dr. Sonia Puri, an associate professor at GMCH’s community medicine department, explained that the findings from NMHS-2 would guide the development of new mental health policies. She emphasized that mental health is an important issue and that updated data will help create better treatment and support systems for the community.