A common feeling of disappointment, sleep disturbance, stress, and nervousness prime the checklist of psychological well being issues that prompted Indians to name the government-run nationwide tele-mental well being programme, Tele MANAS, the digital arm of the District Mental Health Programme launched in October 2022. The service, aimed toward strengthening psychological well being service supply within the nation, on Saturday “reached a milestone of having received over 2,00,000 calls from various parts of the nation since the launch of this toll-free service,’’ the Union Health Ministry said.

The Ministry added that with 42 operational Tele MANAS cells in 31 States and Union Territories, the service is currently catering to over 1,300 calls per day in 20 languages. Over 1,900 counsellors have been trained to run the first line service.

Additionally, around 7,000 calls have been followed up with call-backs from counsellors, where they succeeded in completing the loop of care. Callers requiring specialist care are linked to appropriate services and nearby healthcare facilities.

“A spurt in calls related to exam stress was seen during the exam season. These callers were helped by counsellors with supportive counselling, and self-help strategies. Efforts are also made to reach more students/adolescents in various educational institutes,’’ a Ministry official explained.

The official added that two-thirds of the callers fall in the 18-45 years age group. “There are a few prank calls also,’’ he said.

“Of the two lakh calls, 59.6% were male callers, and 40% were female callers,” Pratima Murthy, Director, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), mentioned. “Nearly 75% of the callers were between 18-45 years of age; 12.5% of the callers were in the 46-64 years age group; and 8% were below 18 years of age.”

Dr. Murthy added that 28.8% calls had been associated to common emotions of disappointment; 27.6% of the calls pertained to sleep-related issues; 20.4% calls involved nervousness; 10% of the calls had been about relationship points; 9.2% of the calls pertained to aggression; and 9.7% callers spoke of low curiosity in actions.

The Tele MANAS service is being promoted by way of totally different media platforms, together with print media, radio, and social media. The service supplies help by way of primary counselling and psychological well being providers, and linkages to current important providers and assets. With Tele MANAS acquired two lakh calls in 9 months, the long term intention is to construct a complete digital psychological well being community throughout India, and reaching the unreached, the Health Ministry mentioned.

The initiative, which was introduced by the Health Ministry within the 2022-23 Union Budget, acknowledges psychological well being points, and is a novel initiative in offering assist whereas sustaining the anonymity of the callers, thereby decreasing the stigma typically surrounding psychological well being points.

“We need to make psychological well being providers accessible freed from value to each family and each particular person, focusing on essentially the most weak and unreached sections of society that will in any other case have gone unnoticed,’’ the official mentioned.

The toll-free helpline numbers — 14416 or 1-800-891-4416 — permits callers to pick out the language of their selection for availing the service.