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The Hindu
24-05-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Health Dept. offers counselling services to over 92,000 students
Over the last few weeks, the State's Health Department reached out to over 92,000 students, who did not pass the Class XII and X Board examinations, to provide counselling services. Of them, closer attention was paid to 700-odd students, who were identified as 'high-risk' during the process. In the past few years, the department has been extending counselling services to those who did not pass the board examinations through TeleMANAS call centre (14416) and State health helpline (104). According to its policy note 2025-2026, it provided stress management counselling services to 79,312 students who appeared for the board examinations, followed by referral and follow-up care for those requiring continued care in 2024. According to official data, this year, calls were made to 39,241 students who had appeared for the Class 12 board examinations. Of them, 297 were identified as high-risk and followed up. Follow-up calls were made to 75 students. A total of six students were referred to the District Mental Health Programme (DMHP) for further care. Similarly, calls were made to 53,722 students who had appeared for the Class 10 board examinations. Out of this, 447 students were identified as high-risk. As many as 70 follow-up calls were made, and the DMHP team was roped in to provide assistance for four students. V. Venkatesh Mathan Kumar, psychiatrist, Institute of Mental Health, said taking support to students at such a point in time would help in more ways than one. 'We tell them that this is not a failure but a setback... When counsellors identify students as high-risk based on symptoms such as crying spells, sleeplessness, anger or facing frustrated parents, they escalate them to the clinical psychologists, who in turn, analyse if the students require counselling or immediate help. They counsel them on coping mechanisms. If not satisfactorily addressed, the DMHP is roped in,' he said. (Assistance for overcoming suicidal thoughts is available on the State's health helpline 104, TeleMANAS 14416 and Sneha's suicide prevention helpline - 044-24640050)
India Today
21-05-2025
- Health
- India Today
Struggling with stress? 10 student counselling platforms backed by the government
Every year, it feels like the bar gets raised just a little higher -- except now, it's sky-high. Board exam toppers flaunt percentages well above 95%, college cut-offs brush the 99% mark, and a "good score" no longer feels good pressure isn't just intense -- it's suffocating. Behind those smiling topper photos and celebratory reels is a large, silent crowd of students grappling with anxiety, burnout, and in heartbreaking cases, thoughts of now living in an academic culture where every other student scores above 90%, yet many feel like they're falling behind. The race to crack competitive exams, bag a college seat, or simply meet the sky-high expectations from schools, families, and themselves is taking a dangerous is Mental Health Awareness Month -- a timely moment to talk about the growing mental health crisis among students in India. According to the World Health Organization, 8% of children and 15% of adolescents globally face mental disorders, and suicide is now the third leading cause of death in those aged 15 to home, news reports of student suicides have become distressingly common, especially around exam the urgency, the Indian government has stepped in with several initiatives -- some old, some recent -- to provide young minds with the support they need. advertisement From helplines to in-school counsellors and digital therapy services, here's a guide to the government-backed organisations and platforms offering crucial mental health help for students:1. TELE MANASAn initiative by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Tele MANAS offers 24/7 mental health support through helpline numbers 14416 and include telephone-based counselling, psychotherapy, psychiatric consultations, and platform has seen a major increase in usage, with nearly 17,000 calls received in Gujarat over two years, showing the growing demand for mental health services.2. DISTRICT MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMME (DMHP)Under the National Mental Health Programme, DMHP operates in 704 districts across aims to integrate mental health services into general healthcare, offering counselling in schools and colleges, workplace stress management, life skills training, and suicide prevention services.3. MANODARPANLaunched by the Ministry of Education, MANODARPAN aims to provide psychosocial support to students, teachers, and offers a national toll-free helpline (8448440632) for tele-counselling services. The initiative also includes a dedicated website with resources like advisory guidelines, practical tips, and FAQs. 4. KIRAN HELPLINELaunched by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment in 2020, KIRAN is India's first national 24/7 mental health helpline (1800-599-0019).It offers early screening, first-aid, psychological support, and referrals to mental health professionals, catering to individuals across all age groups, including students.5. CBSE COUNSELLINGThe Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) provides pre- and post-exam counselling through a toll-free helpline (1800-11-8004) for a fixed period of service offers psychological counselling and career guidance to students and parents. In 2025, CBSE extended its post-result counselling services for 15 days to address student stress.6. RASHTRIYA KISHOR SWASTHYA KARYAKRAM (RKSK)Launched by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, RKSK focuses on the health and development needs of adolescents aged 10-19 addresses mental health issues through community-based interventions and counselling services.7. NCERT COUNSELLING SERVICESThe National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) offers counselling services through approximately 270 counsellors across programme, 'SAHYOG: Guidance for Mental Wellbeing of Children', includes live interactive sessions broadcasted on eVidya DTH-TV channels for Classes 1 to recorded yoga sessions are available to help students manage stress and anxiety. National Health Mission. advertisement8. KERALA'S JEEVANI MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMMEInitiated by the Government of Kerala in 2019, Jeevani provides dedicated mental health services in 66 colleges across the programme employs trained counsellors to offer support to approximately 60,000 college students, addressing issues like anxiety and depression. Wikipedia9. ODISHA'S SAMS MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORTThe Odisha Government has integrated mental health support into the Student Academic Management System (SAMS) can access 24/7 tele-counselling services through helpline numbers 14416 and 1800-891-4416, especially during the admission season.10. ANDHRA PRADESH'S SCHOOL COUNSELLORS INITIATIVEIn March 2025, Andhra Pradesh became the first Indian state to appoint dedicated career and mental health counsellors in government the School Education Department and Samagra Shiksha, 255 counsellors were deployed across the state in collaboration with EdCIL (Educational Consultants India Limited).These initiatives show that student mental health awareness is growing in India and steps are being taken to address the issues. By providing accessible resources and support, the government aims to create a more supportive environment for students facing mental health more information on these programmes, you can visit their official Watch
Time of India
10-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Mental health helpline sees 28-fold rise in calls from Bengaluru in 3 years: Nimhans
Bengaluru: When 22-year-old Mahesh (name changed), a Bengaluru student dialled Tele-MANAS mental health helpline 14416, he wasn't sure if his condition warranted help. His friends brushed aside his concerns as normal stress. But for over a month, Mahesh experienced disturbed sleep and appetite, a persistent low mood, and a lack of interest in activities — which began after he got disappointing exam results.A thorough risk assessment by his Tele-MANAS counsellor revealed no red flags, but it reassured him that his issues were real and symptoms treatable. He was referred to local district mental health programme (DMHP) team. When a follow-up call was made 20 days later, Mahesh had already met a psychiatrist, started medication, and said he was feeling significantly better — mainly because someone finally took his suffering month this year, Tele-MANAS, a free phone-based mental health support service, has been receiving close to one lakh calls from across India — an almost 50-fold increase since its inception in 2022. In Bengaluru, the number of calls was 180 in 2022, which rose to 4,985 in 2024. Until May 6 this year, the helpline has received 3,123 calls. The total call volume from Karnataka until May 6 this year is 1,15,260. Among the various concerns, persistent sadness and related symptoms top the list. This kind of emotional distress accounts for nearly a quarter of all calls, according to data from National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences ( Nimhans ). Operation Sindoor Pak drones enter Indian airspace, explosions heard just hours after truce deal Sirens, explosions in border districts after Pak breaks deal: What we know so far 'What happened to ceasefire?' J&K CM after explosions heard across Srinagar "People complain they feel sad due to multiple causes — from financial trouble to relationship problems," said Dr C Naveen Kumar, professor of psychiatry and head of community psychiatry at Nimhans. "But sadness disturbs their functioning and remains for a period that they consider significant. It is then they reach out to us."The largest share of callers falls in the 18 to 45 years age group. A significant portion of callers are students facing academic stress, alongside working professionals and individuals navigating relationship difficulties. Together, these groups make up nearly 19 per cent of all calls. Although the current dataset doesn't explicitly track spikes tied to specific events like exam results, Dr Kumar noted call volume from students increases during examination seasons. States like Karnataka have actively helped raise awareness by printing Tele-MANAS helpline number on school most callers benefit from brief supportive counselling, about 16.9 per cent of callers from across the country are referred for in-person evaluation through public health system — like Mahesh, whose recovery started with one phone Free 24/7 mental health support: Call 14416 to connect with a counsellorBox 2Total call volume in BengaluruYear - Total Calls2022 - 1802023 - 3,0752024 - 4,9852025 (till May 6) - 3,123Total - 11,363Who are the callersMen: 52.8%Women: 47.1%Transgender: 0.1% How old are the callers0-12 years - 3.6%13-17 years - 6.3%18-45 years - 67.6%46-64 years - 17.4%65+ years - 5.1%Common reported problemsSadness and other related symptoms - 33.3%Stress related to exam/work/relationship - 10.6%Sleep issues - 11.4%General anxiety, panic or phobias - 10.6%*Until May 6* Since most calls in Karnataka are from Bengaluru, the commonly reported mental health issues in the state is being assumed similar to that of Bengaluru *Source: Nimhans
New Indian Express
04-05-2025
- Health
- New Indian Express
Govt draws up modalities to ensure regular health check-up of CCI inmates across Odisha
BHUBANESWAR: The Odisha government has decided to ensure regular and quality healthcare services for children residing in child care institutions (CCIs) across the state. The departments of Women and Child Development (W&CD) and Health and Family Welfare (H&FW) have jointly laid out specific directives to be implemented through convergence at both the state and district levels. As decided, all CCIs in the state will be mapped to the nearest health facilities such as district hospitals, CHCs, PHCs, urban primary health centres (UPHCs), or Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAMs). This mapping is aimed at ensuring easy and consistent access to healthcare services for all children in institutional care. CCI staff will coordinate with these mapped facilities to facilitate regular health check-ups for every child. Health department sources said, each child will be issued an individual health card documenting immunisations, growth monitoring, medical check-ups, treatments, and referrals in order to track health outcomes effectively. These records will be updated during every health visit and reviewed periodically by government officials during institutional inspections, she said. The Ayushman Arogya Mandirs will provide teleconsultation services through a hub and spoke model, connecting community health officers and medical officers with specialists at secondary and tertiary hospitals. CCIs will be encouraged to use this facility whenever necessary. This apart, mobile health teams under Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK), which are currently engaged in screening school-aged children, will extend their services to CCIs and include these institutions in their visit schedules. Keeping in mind the mental health needs of children in institutional care, CCIs will be linked with the district mental health programme (DMHP) teams for regular assessments and counselling support. The state government has directed district collectors and CDMOs to facilitate convergence and coordination between the district child protection units and the district health administrations. A joint orientation session will be organised for CCI staff, DCPUs, and local health officials to train them on using health facilities, teleconsultation portals, and mental health support systems. The government will review the initiative at the district level with compliance reports submitted to the state authorities.
