Latest news with #TeleMANAS
Time of India
01-08-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Tele-MANAS receives over 65k calls in three years
Dharwad: Tele MANAS, a scheme launched by Dharwad Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (DIMHANS) three years ago has succeeded in making thousands of people, cutting across age and gender barriers, come out of mental stress and lead a confident life. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now It is a known fact that in recent years, people of all ages, from young children to the elderly, have been grappling with increasing levels of mental stress. Some, unable to cope, have even taken the extreme step of committing suicide. Tele-MANAS has proven that with early intervention through empathetic counselling, reassurance, and guidance, mental health challenges can be effectively addressed. In the last three years, over 65,000 people have called Tele MANAS and got their mental agonies dissolved through counselling. A student who had failed in PUC exam had gone to railway station to commit suicide and as he was about to enter the tracks, he saw a board that said "Need help dealing with exam pressure?". He made a free call to Tele-MANAS, spoke with a counsellor, felt relieved, abandoned his suicide attempt, reappeared for the exams, and is now employed in a bank. What is Tele-MANAS? Post-Covid, a significant number of people in the country started experiencing mental health issues. In response, the union govt launched Tele-MANAS in 2022. Each state has a Tele-MANAS centre, with the ones in Karnataka operating from NIMHANS (Bengaluru) and DIMHANS (Dharwad). Despite limited public awareness, both centres have collectively received over one lakh calls in just three years. According to National Nodal Officer Ranganath Kulkarni, the free Tele-MANAS helpline is available 24x7 at 14416 or 1800-891-4416 At the Dharwad centre, a team of 20 trained counsellors work in shifts to attend to calls. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now If a call is missed due to high traffic, a new waiting system ensures that the caller is reconnected soon after. Anyone having mental stress due to various reasons can contact this helpline and receive help. 15% of cases severe Analysis of past calls shows that most calls come during night hours. About 85% of callers seek help for issues like mental health, education, personal life (in-law disputes, hatred etc), and sexual problems. Around 15% of the cases are severe, including addiction or suicidal tendencies. In such serious cases, calls are referred to psychiatrists, who may conduct video consultations or call the person to DIMHANS for in-person care. All caller information is kept strictly confidential. DIMHANS director Arun Kumar said that with over 60,000 calls handled in the past three years, the Tele-MANAS initiative has proven highly successful in helping people manage stress. Students, in particular, are encouraged to make use of this service to shape their academic futures. The core message of the programme-"There is a solution to every problem. No one needs to choose suicide or any extreme measure—live a better, stress-free life".
Hans India
25-07-2025
- Health
- Hans India
Tele-MANAS mental health helpline handles over 23.8 lakh calls since 2022: Prataprao Jadhav
New Delhi: The Tele MANAS toll-free number, launched as part of the national tele-mental health programme in India, has received more than 23,82,000 calls since its launch in 2022 till mid-March 2025, the Parliament was informed on Friday. Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Prataprao Jadhav, in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, said that 53 Tele MANAS cells have been set up in 36 states. It provides 24/7 mental health services in up to 20 languages. "More than 23,82,000 calls have been handled on the helpline number," he said. The toll-free number (14416) was launched in 2022 on the occasion of World Mental Health Day on October 10 to counter the rising mental health issues in the country. Tele-MANAS is a mobile application that provides a comprehensive platform to provide support for mental health issues, ranging from well-being to mental disorders. "The Government has also launched the video consultation facility under Tele-MANAS, as another upgrade to the already existing audio calling facility," Jadhav said. To strengthen mental health services, the government has implemented the National Mental Health Programme (NMHP), which includes the District Mental Health Programme (DMHP) -- sanctioned for implementation in 767 districts. The government is also taking steps to strengthen mental healthcare services at the primary healthcare level. 'The government has upgraded more than 1.77 lakh Sub Health Centres (SHCs) and Primary Health Centres (PHCs) to Ayushman Arogya Mandirs. Mental health services have been added in the packages of services under Comprehensive Primary Health Care provided at these Ayushman Arogya Mandirs,' Jadhav said. There are 47 government-run mental hospitals in the country, including 3 Central Mental Health Institutions, viz. National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, Bengaluru, Lokopriya Gopinath Bordoloi Regional Institute of Mental Health, Tezpur, Assam, and Central Institute of Psychiatry, Ranchi. Mental Health Services are also provisioned in all AIIMS, the Minister said.
The Hindu
23-07-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Tele MANAS to coordinate with DMHP teams in Karnataka districts to close mental health accessibility gap
The Tele MANAS helpline, a toll-free 24/7 mental health assistance programme launched by the Government of India across the country, has chalked out a programme to co-ordinate with the District Mental Health Programme (DMHP) in different districts of Karnataka to 'close the mental health accessibility gap'. Speaking to The Hindu ahead of a scheduled visit to Mysuru by a team of Tele MANAS on July 25, senior resident for the Apex Co-ordinating Centre for the programme at NIMHANS in Bengaluru, Gajanan G. Sabhahit noted that callers from remote parts of the State seeking mental health assistance will be linked to the DMHP team members so that they do not have to travel long distances to avail mental health care. When the required mental health care cannot be provided through audio or video consultation, the calls are re-diverted through a rapid referral portal, where a Tele MANAS counseller will provide the details to the DHMP team comprising a psychiatrist, clinical psychologist, community health professional, and Asha workers among others, to help the caller. Meanwhile, project manager for Tele MANAS, e-Health Research Centre, IIIT, Bengaluru, Archana Kartik, described Tele MANAS as the digital arm of DMHP. It is meant to serve as a 'first aid' for people in distress, who are not able to avail mental health assistance physically, she said. Ever since the Tele MANAS helpline was launched in October 2022, Karnataka had accounted for 1.3 lakh calls out of the total 24 lakh calls received so far. In Karnataka, Tele MANAS units are functioning out of Bengaluru and Dharwad, where 20 counsellers in each centre, totalling 40, attend to calls round the clock in shifts. The counsellers are provided special training to handle the calls received from persons with distress. 'About 500 calls are attended to every day at both the centres. Audio calls are converted into video calls if necessary,' said Ms. Archana. The Tele MANAS helpline has now seen a surge in calls across the country, receiving anywhere between 3,500 to 5,000 calls per day in 20 different languages from people facing various mental health issues. While calls from 18-year-olds has increased, most of the phone calls are received are from people between the ages of 18 and 45, with complaints ranging from sleeplessness, not getting married, financial difficulties, and exam stress, she said. A team of Tele MANAS will be in Mysuru on Friday as part of their Information Education and Communication (IEC) activities. While NIMHANS is running this helpline and free consultation is being provided for various mental health issues, the International Institute of Information Technology (IIIT-B) is providing technical support to this helpline. The Tele MANAS helpline is available on 14416.
Indian Express
07-07-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
When government cares, healthcare makes strides
India's healthcare system has undergone a remarkable transformation over the last 11 years, driven by political will, enhanced funding, and a commitment to providing affordable, accessible, equitable and quality healthcare for all. It reflects the Modi government's focus on building a robust healthcare system, prioritising the well-being of every citizen. In 2014, India faced significant challenges, including gaps in infrastructure, trained human resources, availability of medicines and diagnostics, and service quality. Today, guided by a philosophy of comprehensive care focused on proactive well-being, there has been a dramatic shift. The National Health Mission (NHM) is the cornerstone of this revolution, strengthening health systems, reducing maternal and child mortality, combating diseases, and promoting universal access to quality healthcare. More than 1.77 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs are bringing healthcare closer to communities, and platforms like eSanjeevani and TeleMANAS have democratised access to specialist care. Focused interventions under NHM have led to improvements in maternal and child health indicators. According to the UN Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group report, India has seen an 86 per cent decline in maternal mortality rate, nearly double the global average decline of 48 per cent. Infant mortality has declined by 73 per cent as against a global decline of 58 per cent. As the burden of non-communicable diseases is increasing, preventive care has also been a focus. Screening for oral, breast and cervical cancers is being provided at Ayushman Arogya Mandirs. By May, nearly 28 crore were screened for hypertension, more than 27 crore for diabetes, and 27 crore for oral cancer. The Universal Immunisation Programme continues to be strengthened. Six new vaccines have been introduced since 2014, with 5.46 crore children and 1.32 crore pregnant women vaccinated under Mission Indradhanush. We have leveraged the latest technology to build the U-WIN portal to digitise vaccination services, recording 10.68 crore beneficiaries and administering 42.75 crore doses by May 2025. India was declared polio-free in 2014, eliminated maternal and neonatal tetanus in 2015, and trachoma in 2024. Malaria cases and deaths dropped by over 80 per cent between 2015-2023. We reached the Kala Azar elimination target in 2023. TB incidence has reduced by 17.7 per cent and mortality by 21 per cent, as confirmed by the WHO Global TB Report 2024, the 'missing' TB cases have dropped from 15 lakh in 2015 to 1.2 lakh in 2024. Healthcare financing has also improved. Government health expenditure as a share of GDP has increased from 1.13 per cent to 1.84 per cent (2014-2022), while Out-of-Pocket Expenditure (OOPE) dropped from 62.6 per cent to 39.4 per cent. The Free Drugs and Diagnostics Service Initiative has enhanced affordability and accessibility, with laboratory services available in 36 States/UTs, CT scans in 34 States, and tele-radiology in 12 States/UTs. The Pradhan Mantri National Dialysis Programme has benefitted more than 28 lakh patients, saving Rs. 8,725 crores in OOPE. Emergency response systems like the National Ambulance Services (NAS) and Mobile Medical Units (MMUs) have extended services to remote areas. The Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) was launched in 2021. Key initiatives include the establishment of 18,802 Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, 602 Critical Care Hospital Blocks, and 730 District Integrated Public Health Labs. The NHM has engaged 5.23 lakh additional health workers, including 1.18 lakh Community Health Officers (CHOs). Introduced in 2018, the CHO cadre bridges the gap between community-level health workers and medical officers. The last 11 years have laid a foundation for universal healthcare. The nation is poised to achieve its vision of accessible, affordable, and equitable healthcare for all. The writer is Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare
Time of India
06-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
J&K leads in mental health helpline calls
SRINAGAR: A quiet revolution is taking place in mental health care in Jammu & Kashmir. For many battling depression and dark thoughts, a single phone call is making all the difference. The UT has emerged as India's leading performer in responding to mental health distress calls. Driving this transformation is Tele MANAS, a Centre-backed digital mental health support initiative. This was revealed during the national launch of video consultations under Tele MANAS and Hindi version of the Tele MANAS App 1.0 early this month. The central govt announced the launch of National Tele Mental Health Programme in October 2022 to provide free, round-the-clock mental health counselling through digital platforms, aiming to make mental health care accessible nationwide. A year later, Tele MANAS centres were established across various states, with the one in J&K emerging as among the first to become fully operational. Of the 1,03,504 calls received by the centre so far, 87,450 were user-initiated while 15,731 were follow-up or outreach calls made by Tele MANAS. Topping the country list in terms of population-to-call ratio, the J&K Tele MANAS centre is also among the busiest, handling nearly 150 calls a day. The centre, based on the premises of Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (IMHANS), Kashmir, has 19 counsellors, seven psychiatrists, and a backup from a team of clinical psychologists from IMHANS, Kashmir. When video consultations under the programme began in October 2023, J&K was among three states/UTs chosen. Since then, over 400 video consultations have been held and J&K is leading in both volume and adoption, Dr Naveen Kumar C, principal investigator at the national coordinating centre, said. He said video consultations were a significant shift from audio-only interactions as it allowed far more effective clinical engagement. Prof Arshid Hussain, Tele MANAS in-charge at IMHANS, Kashmir, attributed the service's success to a combination of J&K's digitally connected population and awareness about the programme among them. He said the centre was getting calls from all over J&K, including areas like Gurez and Karnah along the LoC in the valley, and border areas of Rajouri, Poonch, Doda, Kishtwar, Kathua and Reasi in Jammu. The most common issue reported through Tele MANAS has been persistent low mood-related depressive symptoms, accounting for 38.5% of all cases. This is followed by anxiety-related issues, including generalized anxiety, panic attacks and phobias, making up nearly 20% of calls. Around 9.27% users sought help for stress linked to exams, workplace pressure, or relationship difficulties. Nearly 4% showed symptoms of losing touch with reality like hallucinations or delusional thinking while disturbing, suicidal thoughts or past attempts were recorded in 3.4% of consultations.
