Chandigarh, June 20: In a significant stride toward holistic rehabilitation, therapeutic libraries established across government de-addiction facilities are helping recovering youth manage cravings and rebuild their lives. Integrated under Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann’s ‘Yudh Nashean Virudh’ campaign, the initiative has successfully reached 10 districts through the Punjab’s Leadership in Mental Health Programme, with blueprints finalized to cover over 80 per cent of all state-run centres by the end of the year.
The specialized libraries are systematically stocked with literature spanning Punjabi culture, poetry, biographies, mental health guides, and spiritual texts. This diverse curation assists patients in reclaiming their cognitive focus and establishing positive daily routines during critical phases of medical treatment.
Soma, a dedicated counselor at the Bathinda de-addiction facility, affirmed that the introduction of literature has radically transformed the recovery environment. She maintained that once patients immerse themselves in reading, their minds naturally divert from withdrawal symptoms, significantly lower craving levels, and provide a constructive anchor for their thoughts.
The literary push serves as a crucial ally to traditional clinical counseling, enabling patients to process complex emotions through shared narratives. Individuals undergoing treatment frequently engage in peer discussions regarding book themes that mirror their personal journeys toward sobriety.
Parminder Singh, a patient from Nathana village receiving treatment at the Bathinda facility, asserted that reading historical and biographical accounts offers immense psychological strength. He stated that learning about individuals who overcame massive adversity provides real motivation to navigate his own recovery process.
