As per Health Ministry, Tele MANAS is organized as a two-tier system (File)

New Delhi:

Tele Mental Health Assistance and Networking Across States (Tele Manas) Helpline, which was launched in 2022 to offer 24×7 tele-mental well being providers, obtained 1 lakh calls until now since its inception, Union Health Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya stated on Monday.

“Together For Mental Health! 100,000 calls received on the Tele Manas Helpline since its launch in October 2022. PM @NarendraModiJi’s Govt is committed to providing access to quality mental healthcare for all across the country,” the Minister tweeted.

According to the Union Health Ministry, the Central Government in its Union Budget 2022, introduced the National Tele Mental Health Programme of India, Tele Mental Health Assistance and Networking Across States (Tele MANAS) and entrusted the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) to information its total implementation.

“Consequently, the MoHFW formed a National Technical Advisory Group (NTAG) and three technical advisory sub-committees (Mental Health Service Delivery, Information Technology Architecture and Health Systems) to achieve the specific goals and objectives of Tele MANAS, said Union Health Family Welfare Ministry,” the Ministry stated.

As per the Ministry, Tele MANAS is organized as a two-tier system. Tier 1 contains the State Tele MANAS cells, which embody educated counsellors and psychological well being specialists. Tier 2 contains specialists at District Mental Health Programme (DMHP)/Medical College sources for bodily session and/or eSanjeevani for audio-visual session.

The public can entry the Tele MANAS helpline by dialling a toll-free quantity or shortcode. This name will likely be IVRS-based audio calling solely, with a well timed auto-call-back strategy. Through the automated callback service, the caller will first be attended to by a educated counsellor.

Based on the extent of care required, the counsellor will both present the care wanted inside their capabilities or refer the caller for specialist care.

“If the caller requires specialized care, the call will be handled by a mental health specialist (clinical psychologist, psychiatric social worker, psychiatric nurse, or psychiatrist). This level of service will contain both audio as well as video-based options,” the Ministry stated.

In case the caller requires pressing in-person intervention/advanced evaluations and administration, they are going to be referred to the closest in-person service for bodily session and/or an audio-visual session with a specialist will likely be organized via eSanjeevani. These centres will vary from Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs) to tertiary care centres as a part of the DMHP, stated the Ministry.

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