Tele-MANAS Surge in Telangana: Over 138,000 Calls Transform Mental Health Support into a Vital Service
Tele-MANAS Helpline Provides Vital Mental Health Support in Telangana
The Tele-MANAS (Tele-Mental Health Assistance and Networking Across States) helpline, a 24/7 toll-free mental health support service, has become an essential lifeline for individuals dealing with mental health issues in Telangana. Reachable at number 14416, the helpline offers free, round-the-clock telephonic counseling by qualified doctors, counselors, psychiatrists, and psychologists.
Launched as part of the Central Government's National Tele Mental Health Programme in October 2022, Tele-MANAS aims to increase accessibility to mental health care digitally across India, including Telangana. The helpline operates across all 33 districts of Telangana and has received over 1.38 lakh calls since its inception, demonstrating its role as a vital lifeline for mental health support in the region.
The helpline caters to a broad range of mental health concerns such as depression, anxiety, emotional distress, suicidal ideations, and other psychological challenges. It also serves as a crucial intervention resource following mental health crises in the community. The team at the helpline, located at the Institute of Mental Health (IMH), Erragadda, Hyderabad, handles around 150 to 200 calls each day.
The impact of Tele-MANAS in Telangana includes providing immediate, stigma-free mental health counseling accessible remotely, assisting people in distress to receive professional help without needing physical travel or hospital visits, acting as a preventive and follow-up support tool complementing existing mental health infrastructure, and increasing awareness and encouraging early intervention in mental health issues.
The success of the Tele-MANAS helpline is evident in stories like that of a 38-year-old man in Hyderabad, diagnosed with Bell's palsy, who sought help for anxiety, sleepless nights, and suicidal thoughts through the helpline. The anonymity of the helpline is important to many callers, providing a safe space for them to open up and seek help.
Efforts are being made to bolster aftercare, improve training, and increase awareness of the helpline at the district level. The staff of the Tele-MANAS helpline aims to attend to every caller calmly and professionally, providing emotional first aid via one-on-one support, determining each person's needs, and offering suitable guidance or resources. The majority of calls to the helpline are from young adults, jobless people, and those with sudden health or financial problems.
The Tele-MANAS helpline intends to integrate mental health support into everyday life, demonstrating concern for mental health and the overall health of the community. The helpline's goal is to ensure swift, confidential, and anonymous assistance for all individuals. As more people in Telangana continue to seek help, the Tele-MANAS helpline will continue to play a crucial role in providing mental health support and promoting early intervention.
- In the heart of Telangana's health-and-wellness landscape, the Tele-MANAS helpline, an integral part of the National Tele Mental Health Programme, champions science by offering round-the-clock telephonic counseling to individuals, promoting evidence-based mental health care.
- As mental health concerns such as depression, anxiety, and stress become increasingly prevalent in daily life, the Tele-MANAS helpline serves as a beacon of science, advocating for the importance of mental health and providing vital resources to support the overall well-being and resilience of individuals in Telangana.
