Latest news with #TeleMentalHealthAssistanceandNetworkingAcrossStates
Time of India
18-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Call for help: 1 in 3 says ‘mazaa nahi aa raha'
Ahmedabad: For Divya (name changed), 23, her love marriage after a year of courtship soon turned sour due to responsibilities of her in-laws and shrinking chances of life outside the home. When the situation started manifesting as a psychosomatic disorder , she dialled 14416, the Tele Mental Health Assistance and Networking Across States ( TeleMANAS ) helpline. And then there was a 72-year-old woman, who called to complain that nobody had time for her anymore, and that she felt increasingly lonely. These two cases are among the 16,700 calls from across Gujarat that mental health experts on the helpline have attended to. As the helpline inches towards 17,000 calls in its operation over two years, coordinators tell TOI that an analysis indicates specific trends for specific age groups. Overall, 36% of the callers sought help for general sadness or mood swings, saying 'mazaa nahi aa raha'. This, counsellors, said, points towards callers identifying early signs of mental health issues and seeking intervention. Over 80% of the calls were from four major categories. Apart from general sadness or mood changes, three other categories included stress related to exams, work, or relationships; anxiety, phobia, or panic; and disturbed sleep. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trade Bitcoin & Ethereum – No Wallet Needed! IC Markets Start Now Undo Dr Ajay Chauhan, medical superintendent of the Government Hospital for Mental Health, from where the counsellors guide callers on the helpline among other centres, said that post-Covid, there is a rise in awareness around mental health. "People from across age groups make the calls, but 70% of them are from the working population (18 to 45 years), and about two-thirds of the callers are men. We are creating awareness about the national helpline through various platforms," he said. Dr Kevin Patel, a psychiatrist in Ahmedabad, said that compared to 2020, screen use has increased significantly. "The need of the hour is to create awareness about the mindful use of gadgets, especially for children and teens," he said.
Time of India
05-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Students applying for admission on SAMS can now seek help for mental health issues
1 2 Bhubaneswar: The state govt has introduced a helpline on the Student Academic Management System (SAMS) website for students suffering from mental health issues. As per the new feature, students can call a toll-free number to consult with mental health experts. As most students log in to this website to apply for admission or to appear for an entrance test, the govt has selected SAMS during the admission session to address mental health issues amid a spurt in student suicides. SAMS conducts the online admission process for different courses offered by educational institutions under the jurisdiction of the school and mass education department, higher education department, skill development and technical education department, sports and youth services department and the Odia language and literature department. If a user clicks on the SAMS website's windows dedicated to admission into courses, including degree, PG, ITI and diploma (polytechnic), a pop-up window appears with a message: 'Important mental health support announcement'. "The principal/head of the institution is requested to actively promote awareness among students, faculty and other stakeholders about the availability of mental health support services through platforms such as Tele-MANAS (Tele Mental Health Assistance and Networking Across States). The Tele-MANAS helpline numbers - 14416 and 1800-891-4416 - offer free, 24/7 tele-counselling services, ensuring that students have access to professional mental health support whenever they need it," read the govt message. Biswa Ranjan Mishra, professor and head of psychiatry department at AIIMS Bhubaneswar, said, "This is a good step to sensitise students in this manner. Many students do not know about the helpline numbers and the whole process of seeking help from an expert. Such an initiative by Tele-MANAS will make students aware of the support system." He added, "Early signs of depression include social withdrawal, absenteeism from class, a steep decline in academic performance, substance abuse and irritability in students. If students are experiencing such symptoms, they should call the 24/7 helpline number and talk to an expert and seek counselling. If needed, the tele-consultation service will refer the students to a nearby facility for further assistance." Amrit Pattojoshi, a city-based psychiatrist, said peer group support can help a student overcome anxiety and depression. "Anyone suffering from a mental health illness can feel hopeless, helpless, worthless and useless. They cannot feel connected in a social gathering. During this time, they should seek help and consult a psychiatrist," he added.
