World Mental Health Day: Tele Mental Health Programme, Helpline Launched

New Delhi: A national tele mental health programme and a toll-free helpline number were launched on Monday (October 10) on the occasion of World Mental Health Day. The initiatives of the Union Health Ministry were virtually launched by Karnataka Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) in Bengaluru. Acknowledging the mental health crisis in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and an urgent need to establish a digital mental health network that will withstand the challenges amplified by the pandemic, the central government announced the National Tele Mental Health Programme (NTMHP) in the Union Budget 2022-23. The Tele Mental Health Assistance and Networking Across States (Tele-MANAS) aims to provide free tele-mental health services all over the country round the clock, particularly catering to people in remote or under-served areas, the health ministry said.

Also Read: ‘Yours Mindfully,’ An Organisation By-Youth And For-Youth Makes Mental Health Inclusive And Accessible Through Awareness

The programme includes a network of 23 tele-mental health centres of excellence, with NIMHANS being the nodal centre and International Institute of Information Technology-Bengaluru (IIITB) providing technology support, it said.

Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bengaluru and National Health Systems Resource Centre (NHRSC) will provide the technical support.

The Union government aims to open at least one Tele-MANAS cell in each state and Union territory.

Tele-MANAS will be organised in a two-tier system. Tier 1 comprises state Tele-MANAS cells which include trained counsellors and mental health specialists.

While Tier 2 will comprise specialists at District Mental Health Programme (DMHP)/Medical College resources for physical consultation or e-Sanjeevani for audio visual consultation, ministry officials said.

Also Read: World Mental Health Day 2022: Making Mental Health And Well-Being For All A Global Priority

The initial roll-out providing basic support and counselling through centralized Interactive Voice Response system (IVRS) is being customized for use across all states and UTs, they said.

This will not only help in providing immediate mental healthcare services, but also facilitate continuum of care, Gehlot said at the launch.

Specialised care is being envisioned through the programme by linking Tele-MANAS with other services like National tele-consultation service, e-Sanjeevani, Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission, mental health professionals, Ayushman Bharat health and wellness centres and emergency psychiatric facilities.

Eventually, this will include the entire spectrum of mental wellness and illness, and integrate all systems that provide mental health care, the ministry stated.

NIMHANS has conducted training for 900 Tele MANAS counsellors from majority of states and UTs.

Also Read: World Mental Health Day 2022: Mental Illness Not Only Urban Issue, It Chooses Not To Spare Anyone: Deepika Padukone

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

NDTV – Dettol have been working towards a clean and healthy India since 2014 via the Banega Swachh India initiative, which is helmed by Campaign Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan. The campaign aims to highlight the inter-dependency of humans and the environment, and of humans on one another with the focus on One Health, One Planet, One Future – Leaving No One Behind. It stresses on the need to take care of, and consider, everyone’s health in India – especially vulnerable communities – the LGBTQ population, indigenous people, India’s different tribes, ethnic and linguistic minorities, people with disabilities, migrants, geographically remote populations, gender and sexual minorities. In wake of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign will continue to raise awareness on the same along with focussing on the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children, fight malnutrition, mental wellbeing, self care, science and health, adolescent health & gender awareness. Along with the health of people, the campaign has realised the need to also take care of the health of the eco-system. Our environment is fragile due to human activity, which is not only over-exploiting available resources, but also generating immense pollution as a result of using and extracting those resources. The imbalance has also led to immense biodiversity loss that has caused one of the biggest threats to human survival – climate change. It has now been described as a “code red for humanity.” The campaign will continue to cover issues like air pollution, waste management, plastic ban, manual scavenging and sanitation workers and menstrual hygiene. Banega Swasth India will also be taking forward the dream of Swasth Bharat, the campaign feels that only a Swachh or clean India where toilets are used and open defecation free (ODF) status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and the country can become a Swasth or healthy India.