NEW DELHI: The Ayurveda-based mental health initiative by Delhi-based All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) among police personnel is yielding encouraging results, demonstrating the potential of integrative approaches in addressing occupational stress.
Launched during the Covid pandemic, the public health drive on stress management through Ayurveda has reached over 35,000 personnel, creating awareness and offering targeted interventions for those in high-pressure roles.
Police personnel, who routinely operate under demanding and unpredictable conditions, are particularly vulnerable to stress, anxiety, and related disorders, making such focused interventions timely and relevant.
The programme combines screening, counselling, and traditional Ayurvedic therapies, aiming to provide both preventive and therapeutic care in stress and associated conditions such as hypertension.
Prof. (Vd.) Pradeep Kumar Prajapati, Director, AIIA, stated that mental health is equally important as physical health. He referred to the World Health Organization’s definition of mental health as a state of well-being in which an individual realizes his or her abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively, and is able to contribute to the community. In this positive sense, mental health forms the foundation for individual well-being and the effective functioning of society.
The project is led by Prof. (Dr.) Medha Kulkarni, Principal Investigator (PI), and Prof. (Dr.) Meena Deogade, Co-Principal Investigator (Co-PI). The team has also developed a dedicated stress management mobile application as part of this initiative.
Atul Katiyar, Special Commissioner of Police (Welfare Division), Delhi Police, appreciated the role and importance of Ayurveda, highlighting its timeless wisdom and holistic healing power.
Speaking about the project, Prof. (Dr.) Deogade stated that police personnel often operate under intense physical and psychological pressure, making them particularly vulnerable to stress-related disorders.
She added that the project aimed to provide a holistic, preventive, and therapeutic approach rooted in Ayurveda to address their mental and emotional well-being, and that the encouraging response and measurable outcomes reflect the effectiveness of Ayurvedic interventions.
The project team organized 206 camps, where 7,752 police personnel were screened for stress, hypertension, and related conditions. Out of these, 1,843 personnel were provided Ayurvedic treatments, including internal medications and therapies such as Shirodhara.
The AIIA also organized a one-day dissemination workshop of the PHI project on March 24, 2026 was graced by Katiyar, Dr. Koustubha Upadhyaya, Advisor, Union Ministry of AYUSH.
Dr. Sajeena A., Assistant Professor at the North Eastern Institute of Ayurveda & Folk Medicine Research (NEIAFMR), Pasighat, Arunachal Pradesh, delivered a session on “Stress Management through Smriti Meditation,” while Dr. Anupama Krishnan from VPSV Ayurveda College, Kottakkal, Kerala, spoke on “When Work Disturbs the Mind: Occupational Stress and its Ayurvedic Management,” emphasising holistic and preventive strategies rooted in Ayurveda.
The workshop served as an important platform to disseminate research findings and reinforce the role of Ayurveda in addressing occupational stress, particularly among high-risk professions such as police personnel.
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