Latest news with #InstituteofMentalHealth
Time of India
a day ago
- Health
- Time of India
Telemanas helpline in Telangana gets over one lakh calls since its launch in Oct 2022
Hyderabad: Since its launch in October 2022, the Tele-MANAS mental health helpline in Telangana has received more than 1.38 lakh calls from people seeking help for issues such as anxiety, depression, substance use, sleep problems, and suicidal thoughts. The 24/7 helpline, operating from the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) in Erragadda, is managed by a team that includes two psychiatrists, a clinical psychologist, 14 trained counsellors, and technical and support staff. The helpline offers free, confidential support through the toll-free number 14416. Kamareddy reported the highest number of calls at 19,366, followed by Hyderabad (9,904), Hanamkonda (8,086), Siddipet (7,911), and Vikarabad (7,067). The lowest number of calls were reported from Asifabad (1,144), Jayashankar Bhupalpally (1,359), Mulugu (1,562), Jagityal (1,742) and Nirmal (1,767) You Can Also Check: Hyderabad AQI | Weather in Hyderabad | Bank Holidays in Hyderabad | Public Holidays in Hyderabad Women comprised the majority of callers, with 92,013 reaching out for help compared to 45,911 men. The largest number of calls — 42,641 — came from individuals aged between 18 and 45. The centre receives around 150 to 200 calls daily, providing immediate support and referring serious cases to nearby district mental health programme (DMHP) clinics or govt hospitals.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Health
- The Hindu
How Tele-MANAS helpline in Telangana became a lifeline for 1.3 lakh callers
In early 2025, a 38-year-old unemployed man from Hyderabad found himself trapped in a cycle of fear, sleepless nights, and persistent thoughts of self-harm. A few months earlier, he had been diagnosed with Bell's palsy, a condition marked by sudden weakness or paralysis on one side of the face. While the physical symptoms were being treated, his mental health began to unravel. Panic episodes, intrusive thoughts, and a growing sense of hopelessness slowly took hold, affecting his ability to function day to day. Then he turned to 14416, the toll-free helpline of the Tele-Mental Health Assistance and Networking Across States (Tele-MANAS) initiative. The call was transferred to a psychiatrist. Over the next few minutes, he was encouraged to speak freely and reassured about confidentiality. He was assessed for suicidal ideation and educated about the link between physical and mental health. 'He agreed to seek further care at the District Hospital. A few days later, during a follow-up session, he confirmed that he was already feeling better,' said a counsellor. But his case is just one among thousands. Since its launch in October 2022, Tele-MANAS helpline in Telangana has received over 1.38 lakh calls from people across the State experiencing mental health concerns, from anxiety and depression to substance use, sleep disturbances, and suicidal ideation. The round-the-clock call centre at the Institute of Mental Health (IMH), Erragadda, is staffed by a team comprising two psychiatrists, one clinical psychologist, 14 trained counsellors, two technical coordinators, and two support staff. Each day, the centre fields between 150 to 200 calls, connecting individuals to qualified mental health professionals who provide immediate support and refer serious cases to local District Mental Health Programme (DMHP) clinics or government hospitals. The intervention is free, confidential, and accessible to anyone with a phone. The helpline's impact is evident across all 33 districts. Kamareddy district recorded the highest number of calls at 19,366, followed by Hyderabad (9,904), Hanamkonda (8,086), Siddipet (7,911), and Vikarabad (7,067). 'Most common callers are young adults, unemployed individuals, and people dealing with sudden medical or financial stressors. Callers often report feeling isolated or unable to speak openly with family members, which is where the anonymity and availability of the helpline make a critical difference,' said a Tele-MANAS official.
South China Morning Post
4 days ago
- Health
- South China Morning Post
Singapore's suicide surge: why are more young people taking their own lives?
Financial pressures, the strain of caregiving and the demands of building a career are increasingly pushing Singaporeans in their thirties to breaking point, with experts warning of a sharp rise in burnout and suicide among the so-called sandwich generation. Advertisement Provisional statistics released last Saturday showed that 75 people in their thirties took their own lives in 2024, up from 66 the year before. This age group accounted for the highest number of suicides last year. According to the Samaritans of Singapore, people in their thirties face a unique constellation of complex pressures, from family issues and job instability to mounting mental health challenges. But suicide is rarely attributable to a single cause. Rather, it arises from what Dr Sharon Lu, principal clinical psychologist at Singapore's Institute of Mental Health, described as an 'interplay of biological, psychological, social and cultural risk factors', compounded by a lack of resilience. A customer withdraws banknotes from an ATM in Singapore. Financial pressures are among the myriad factors that drive people to suicide, experts say. Photo: AFP 'It is often assumed that depression is the cause of all suicides, but suicide is often due to the interaction of a myriad of factors and life circumstances,' Lu said. Advertisement 'Depression may be one of the many stressors an individual is struggling with, but someone who is not depressed can still be suicidal.'
AsiaOne
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- AsiaOne
Chinese actor Zhang Yiyang revealed to have been executed for murder of 16-year-old girlfriend , Entertainment News
Chinese actor Zhang Yiyang was recently revealed to have been executed by a firing squad in December last year for killing his 16-year-old girlfriend. He was 34 years old and is the first celebrity in China to have been handed a death sentence. According to a court document released by Xianyang, Shaanxi, his girlfriend surnamed Zhang - who was 15 years old when they first dated - had wanted to break up. Yiyang was opposed to it and threatened to kill himself during their quarrels. On Feb 26, 2022, he lured her into a forest in the guise of celebrating her birthday and cut her neck multiple times with a pocketknife, rupturing her carotid artery and windpipe. He then went home to change his clothes, before throwing them and her mobile phone into a river. The court document revealed he then tried to commit suicide in a hotel but was found by staff who called the police. The court sentenced him to death for intentional homicide, and he was executed on Dec 18, 2024. Yiyang's posthumous film Jie You Yin Sheng Guan premiered in March this year, and netizens recently took to Douban to give one-star ratings, criticising its release despite its lead actor being executed for murder. One netizen remarked: "The male lead actor was executed for murder, but the movie he starred in still premiered." Samaritans of Singapore: 1800-221-4444 Singapore Association for Mental Health: 1800-283-7019 Institute of Mental Health's Mental Health Helpline: 6389-2222 Silver Ribbon: 6386-1928 Tinkle Friend: 1800-274-4788 Community Health Assessment Team: 6493-6500/1 Counselling TOUCHline (Counselling): 1800-377-2252 TOUCH Care Line (for seniors, caregivers): 6804-6555 Care Corner Counselling Centre (Mandarin): 1800-353-5800 Online resources [[nid:720332]] syarifahsn@
Time of India
15-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
‘Fit for discharge, none to care': IMH holds recovered patients; Mental Healthcare Act mandates family reintegration
HYDERABAD: Although around 90 psychiatric patients at the Institute of Mental Health (IMH), Erragadda, have recovered and are deemed fit for reintegration into the community, many continue to remain in the hospital's discharge and cure (DC) ward. Doctors at the IMH report making 25 to 30 phone calls daily to the families of such patients, but to no avail. Relatives or next of kin often refuse to take them back, despite medical clearance. One such case involves a 45-year-old man from Sirpur who was admitted with bipolar affective disorder (BPAD) in December 2023 and declared fit for discharge in April 2024. However, the father of a 15-year-old boy is now being abandoned by his family. A month ago, he also developed a fever and subsequently suffered paralysis. You Can Also Check: Hyderabad AQI | Weather in Hyderabad | Bank Holidays in Hyderabad | Public Holidays in Hyderabad 'During his admission, his relatives came along, but now they claim it is his son's responsibility to bring him home. Although his psychiatric condition has improved, he currently has slurred speech (difficulty to pronounce words clearly) and an abnormal gait (change in walking pattern). He needs neurological treatment, but the family refuses to accept him,' said Dr Vivaswan Boorla, psychiatrist at IMH. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like For the chosen ones! 4&5 Bed Condominiums at Financial District, Hyd Sumadhura Group Learn More Undo On average, patients are recommended for discharge within three to four months, unless they have a chronic mental illness, in which case treatment typically lasts six to seven months. Most of the patients suffer from conditions such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and other psychological illnesses. OVERUSE OF HOSP RESOURCES Telangana currently has two mental health review boards (MHRBs), which oversee discharge procedures via dedicated committees. While some recovered patients have been placed in care homes run by non-profits, this is only permitted through court orders. The situation is also contributing to the overuse of hospital resources and adding strain to IMH's 600-bed capacity. 'Beds and other resources continue to be occupied by patients who are already fit for discharge, even as new patients are admitted regularly. This often results in a shortage of space and puts additional pressure on the hospital staff,' said a senior doctor. Moreover, due to extended stays, many recovered patients in the DC ward begin to develop general health issues such as fever, cough, hypertension, and diabetes. 'These patients need to be taken to specialists at Osmania General Hospital (OGH) and other facilities, usually accompanied by a staff member in an ambulance. This adds further pressure on our staff,' the doctor added. Several of these patients were also taken ill during the food poisoning incident at IMH in early June. Citing the Mental Healthcare Act 2017, IMH superintendent Dr Anitha Rayirala emphasised that the law mandates the reintegration of recovered psychiatric patients into society. She added that the primary aim of the revised Act was to uphold the rights of individuals with mental illness, who were frequently abandoned in the past. 'The patients in DC wards have been granted the status of free citizens on court orders. Yet, there remains a widespread belief among family members that these individuals are still unwell, even when they are stable and doing well post-treatment. Another issue is that families often stop administering medication after discharge, leading to relapse. Family Unwilling A 46-year-old man from Pedadapally was admitted to the IMH in June 2019 following a magistrate's order and was declared fit for discharge in October 2020. According to doctors, the patient had discontinued his psychiatric medication on his own, claiming he was asymptomatic and no longer required treatment. However, due to his history of aggression and the potential risk he poses to his elderly parents, particularly in light of his mother's medical condition and his father's caregiving responsibilities, the family has expressed their unwillingness and inability to take him back home post-discharge. Fears Of Relapse In another case, a 36-year-old man from Mancherial diagnosed with bipolar affective disorder (BPAD) was admitted to the IMH in September 2024 and declared fit for discharge two months later. Despite repeated calls, his family members have expressed reluctance to take him home, citing fears of a potential relapse. While they assured the patient over the phone that they would visit soon, they have since informed the doctors that they do not intend to come.
