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New Delhi – The Tele MANAS toll-free helpline, a cornerstone of India’s national tele-mental health programme, has received an overwhelming response with more than 15.95 lakh calls as of November 22, 2024. This milestone was shared by Prataprao Jadhav, Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, during a written reply in the Lok Sabha on Friday.
Launched in October 2022, the Tele MANAS initiative aims to improve access to quality mental health counseling and care across the country. So far, 53 Tele MANAS cells have been established across 36 states and union territories, with services already operational.
Jadhav emphasized the government’s commitment to addressing mental health challenges in India, noting that “continuous efforts are being made to increase the number of mental healthcare professionals.”
Expanding Mental Health Infrastructure
As part of the National Mental Health Programme (NMHP), significant investments are being made to bolster mental health education and services. Twenty-five Centres of Excellence have been sanctioned to expand postgraduate education in mental health specialties and provide advanced treatment facilities. Additionally, 19 government medical colleges and institutions have been supported to enhance 47 postgraduate departments in mental health.
At the district level, the District Mental Health Programme (DMHP) has been approved for implementation in 767 districts nationwide.
Primary Healthcare Integration
To address mental health challenges at the grassroots level, the government has upgraded over 1.73 lakh Sub Health Centres (SHCs) and Primary Health Centres (PHCs) into Ayushman Arogya Mandirs. This initiative aims to integrate mental health services with primary healthcare, ensuring broader accessibility.
Combating Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs)
In addition to mental health, efforts to manage non-communicable diseases have also been intensified. A total of 770 district NCD clinics, 372 district day-care centres, 233 cardiac care units, and 6,410 community health centre NCD clinics have been established.
The availability of affordable medicines and surgical devices under the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) has further strengthened these efforts, with 2,047 types of medicines and 300 surgical devices, including those for cardiovascular, cancer, and diabetes treatments, made accessible to the public.
A Step Towards Mental Health for All
The Tele MANAS helpline represents a significant leap forward in India’s mental health services, leveraging technology to provide remote counseling and support to those in need. With the helpline receiving nearly 16 lakh calls in just over two years, the initiative underscores the urgent demand for accessible mental health care in the country.
As the government continues to prioritize mental health and expand related services, the Tele MANAS programme is set to play a vital role in addressing the growing mental health needs of India’s population.
