The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said on Wednesday that it has received more than one million calls on the Tele Mental Health Assistance and Networking Across States (Tele-MANAS) helpline since its inception in October 2022.
“India’s National Tele-Mental Health Program has received over one million calls on its Tele-MANAS toll-free number, representing an average of 3,500 calls per day,” the Health Ministry said in an official statement.
The program aims to improve mental health services nationwide, provide multilingual support and facilitate communication between callers and mental health professionals.
“By connecting existing mental health resources and establishing a comprehensive digital network, Tele-MANAS has become an essential platform for addressing the country’s mental health needs” , the ministry said.
The platform includes follow-up callbacks to ensure continued care and support for those accessing mental health care, and currently operates 51 Tele-MANAS cells across all states and union territories.
Highlighting the increased awareness and utilization of mental health services in the country, the ministry said the number of callers in the program has grown from about 12,000 in December 2022 to more than 90,000 in May 2024.
“This increase in engagement underlines the importance of continued investment and expansion of mental health initiatives to ensure everyone has access to the support they need,” the ministry added.
The ministry said the integration of the Tele-MANAS helpline with initiatives like e-Sanjeevani will further improve the accessibility and effectiveness of the platform.
“By continuing to promote awareness and accessibility, Tele-MANAS can further contribute to addressing the mental health challenges facing the country,” the report said.
First print: May 30, 2024 | 12:49 pm IST