On the occasion of World Mental Health Day, the Union Health Ministry introduced the Tele Mental Health Assistance and Networking Across States (Tele-MANAS) initiative, a round-the-clock tele-mental health service. The service will initially be offered in 20 states and UTs before being extended to the entire nation.
The goal of Tele-MANAS is to improve accessibility to mental healthcare throughout the entire nation, including the remote regions. The nationwide network will offer e-prescriptions, specialist consultations, and counselling.
You can reach the service by dialling 14416, which is a helpline number, or 1-800-91-4416. Callers will first reach an IVRS before being connected with a certified counsellor in their neighbourhood. They will be given access to mental health professionals such as clinical psychologists, psychiatric social workers, psychiatric nurses, or psychiatrists online if necessary.
The caller will be directed to a health and wellness centre, primary health centre, or tertiary care facility if they require in-person assistance.
The National Institute of Mental Health and Neuroscience (NIMHANS), with technical assistance from IIT-Bombay, will serve as the nodal centre for Tele MANAS, which will be the digital component of the National Mental Health Programme. There will be 23 mentoring institutions, including various AIIMS, PGIMER, Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences-Delhi, and five regional coordination centres.
The programme was initially introduced in the budget for 2022–2023 while acknowledging the mental health crisis following the Covid–19 pandemic.
