Over the last six months, the Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (IMHANS) in Srinagar has received 10,500 calls from people in distress across Jammu and Kashmir.
Tele-MANAS
- The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has launched the Tele Mental Health Assistance and Networking across States (Tele-MANAS) initiative in October 2022.
- It intends to provide free tele-mental health treatments around the clock throughout the country, with a focus on persons living in distant or underserved locations.
Implementation of the plan
- Counselling: The plan includes a network of 38 tele-mental health excellence centres located throughout 27 states and UTs that function in more than 20 languages.
- Helpline: A toll-free, 24-hour helpline number (14416) has been established across the country, allowing callers to select their preferred language when requesting services. Service is also available by calling 1-800-91-4416.
- Tele-MANAS will be organised in a two-tier system, with Tier 1 consisting of state Tele-MANAS cells staffed by professional counsellors and mental health specialists.
- Tier 2 specialists will be drawn from the District Mental Health Programme (DMHP)/Medical College resources for physical consultation and/or e-Sanjeevani for audio-visual consultation.
Expansion of the plan
- The initial implementation is being customised for use throughout all States and UTs, providing basic support and counselling through a centralised Interactive Voice Response system (IVRS).
- For specialised care, it is being linked with other services such as National teleconsultation, e-Sanjeevani, Ayushman Bharat, mental health specialists, health centres, and emergency psychiatric facilities.
- This will not only aid in the provision of acute mental health assistance, but will also facilitate the continuum of care.
- This will eventually embrace the complete spectrum of mental wellness and sickness, as well as the integration of all systems that provide mental health care.
Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tele-manas-counsels-kashmirs-distressed-souls/article66804027.ece