A five-day capacity-building workshop on Psychosocial Care in Disaster Management – Health Sector Disaster Preparedness and Response commenced at the Conference Hall of the Mission Director, National Health Mission (NHM) Leh on July 21. The workshop is being held under the Central Sector Scheme on Health Sector Disaster Preparedness and Response and is implemented by the Department of Psychosocial Support in Disaster Management (DPSSDM), NIMHANS, Bengaluru.

The initiative aims to enhance the capacity of health professionals—psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, counsellors, and medical officers—to effectively address the psychosocial needs of disaster survivors.

The inaugural session was presided over by Tushar Anand, Mission Director, NHM Ladakh, who attended as the Chief Guest. He lauded the initiative for equipping Ladakh’s health workforce with crucial knowledge and skills to manage the psychosocial dimensions of disaster response.

Day One featured technical sessions led by eminent experts in disaster mental health, including Dr. K. Sekar, Consultant, DPSSDM, and Dr. Sanjeev Kumar Manikappa, Principal Investigator and Associate Professor, DPSSDM, NIMHANS. In his address, Dr. Sanjeev Kumar emphasized the need for strong mental health support mechanisms at all stages of disaster preparedness, response, and recovery. He referenced global frameworks such as the Hyogo Framework for Action and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, highlighting their significance in building resilient, people-centric health systems.

Quoting the World Risk Report 2020, Dr. Sanjeev pointed out the rising frequency and intensity of global disasters—with 416 natural disasters recorded in a single year, resulting in over two million deaths. He also stressed the role of climate change in intensifying disaster risks and called for the integration of psychosocial care and disaster education into public health systems.

Participants were introduced to real-world case studies—including the Bhopal Gas Tragedy, pandemics, terrorist attacks, and civil unrest—while exploring vulnerabilities that amplify the impact of disasters, including psychological, social, economic, and environmental factors.

With this initiative, Ladakh becomes the 21st State/UT in India to implement such a program, marking a significant step in enhancing regional disaster resilience. A hands-on session led by Dr. Sanjeev featured live demonstrations of response techniques, offering frontline workers practical guidance on rapid and effective psychosocial interventions during emergencies.

The workshop will continue over the coming days, aiming to empower Ladakh’s healthcare professionals to design, communicate, and implement timely psychosocial responses—thereby strengthening the region’s disaster management and public health preparedness.