Tele MANAS: Revolutionising Mental Health Care in India
Over 14.7 Lakh Calls Served
in Two Years, Transforming Mental Healthcare Accessibility
The National Tele Mental Health Programme (NTMHP), launched by the Government of India on October 10, 2022, marks two years of significant contributions to the nation's mental healthcare system. As part of this initiative, Tele MANAS (Tele Mental Health Assistance and Networking Across States) was introduced as a toll-free helpline (14416) available nationwide, offering a wide range of mental health services. Through this digital platform, individuals can access telephone-based counselling, psychotherapy, psychiatric consultations, and referral services, including urgent care, without the barriers of distance or cost.
Tele MANAS has made mental healthcare more accessible to millions across
India, ensuring that people, especially in remote areas, receive timely
support. The program’s ability to deliver mental health services on such a
broad scale has drawn praise from global health authorities. The World Health
Organization (WHO) hailed Tele MANAS as an innovative and effective model for
delivering mental health care.
Dr. Roderico H Ofrin, WHO Representative to India, congratulated the
Ministry of Health for the program’s success over the past two years, noting
that the WHO’s review of Tele MANAS highlighted its potential to significantly
improve mental health outcomes. He also emphasized the vital role of primary
healthcare centres, particularly Ayushmann Arogya Mandirs, in supporting mental
well-being through this initiative, making it a cornerstone of India’s public
health framework.
As Tele MANAS enters its third year, its achievements reflect a strong
commitment to addressing mental health challenges, ensuring that care is
available to everyone, no matter where they are in the country.
Need for Tele MANAS
India, home to 18% of the global population, faces a significant mental
health crisis, with mental disorders being the second leading cause of years
lived with disability (YLDs) and suicide ranking as the third leading cause of
death in many states. National studies reveal that 15% of India’s adult
population experiences mental health issues requiring intervention, yet the
treatment gap ranges from 70-92%, leaving millions without access to care.
Although the Mental Healthcare Act of 2017 enshrines access to mental
health as a statutory right, over 11 crore people in India still suffer from
mental health disorders, with 80% not seeking help. Each year, more than 1 lakh
people die by suicide, while countless others attempt to end their lives,
underscoring the urgent need for intervention.
Tele MANAS was established to bridge this gap and make mental healthcare
accessible to all. By offering counselling, psychotherapy, and referral
services via telephone, the program provides a lifeline to individuals who
might otherwise be unable to seek help. Most mental health issues do not
require specialised care but can be managed effectively by trained healthcare
providers, ensuring that no individual faces discrimination or neglect due to
mental illness. Access to mental healthcare is a fundamental human right, and
Tele MANAS is a vital step toward realizing that right for millions of people
across India.
Aim & Objectives
The primary aim of Tele MANAS is to provide universal access to
equitable, affordable, and quality mental health care through a 24x7
tele-mental health service, forming a key digital component of the National
Mental Health Programme (NMHP). This service is available across all Indian
States and Union Territories, with assured linkages to ensure seamless care.
Key objectives include:
Expanding Access: Scaling up the reach of mental health services
nationwide, ensuring that anyone across India can access support at any time
through dedicated 24x7 tele-mental health facilities in every State and Union
Territory.
Building a Comprehensive Mental Health Network: Establishing an
integrated system that goes beyond counselling by offering medical and
psychosocial interventions, video consultations with specialists,
e-prescriptions, follow-up care, and connections to in-person services.
Reaching Vulnerable Populations: Prioritising mental health services for
vulnerable and difficult-to-reach groups, ensuring no one is left without
essential care.
Tele MANAS Services
Tele MANAS offers 24/7, free mental health support through phone-based
services, ensuring that individuals across India can easily access the help
they need. The service is structured in a two-tier system to optimize care
delivery and enhance support.
Tier 1 comprises state Tele MANAS cells staffed with trained counsellors and
mental health specialists. These professionals provide immediate support
through:
Tele-Counseling: Counsellors assist individuals dealing with
psychological distress, addressing day-to-day challenges such as relationship
conflicts, financial stress, workplace pressure, and exam anxiety. This service
is available in 20 Indian languages, catering to the diverse cultural and
regional needs of the population.
Tele-Consultation: When necessary, mental health professionals,
including psychiatrists and psychologists, provide consultations. They help
diagnose and manage conditions such as depression, anxiety, psychosis,
addiction, and dementia. This tier also addresses emergency situations requiring
immediate intervention, such as individuals experiencing suicidal thoughts or
drastic changes in behaviour.
Tier 2 comprises specialists from District Mental Health Programme (DMHP)
facilities and medical colleges, offering additional resources for physical
consultations and audio visual consultations via e-Sanjeevani. This tier also
facilitates in-person services provided by mental health professionals at
public health facilities, including DMHP and mentoring institutes. In cases
where advanced treatment is needed, Tele MANAS refers individuals to
appropriate mental health establishments for further evaluation and care.
In addition to supporting individuals with psychiatric disorders, Tele
MANAS focuses on enhancing mental well-being for those facing everyday
stressors. It offers guidance on issues like sleep disturbances, technology
overuse, substance misuse, and more. Furthermore, it extends support to parents
and caregivers of children and adolescents with developmental disorders such as
intellectual disabilities, autism, and ADHD.
By offering promotive, preventive, and curative mental health services,
Tele MANAS strives to empower individuals to take control of their mental
health and break through the barriers of stigma. It ensures that everyone has
the right to access affordable, high-quality mental health care, wherever they
may be.
App and Video Consultations
On World Mental Health Day, October 10, Tele MANAS launched its mobile
app and video consultation services to enhance access to mental health support.
The Tele MANAS app serves as a comprehensive platform offering mental health
resources, including self-care tips, stress management strategies, and tools to
recognize early distress signals. It engages users through interactive activities
like mind challenges, games, and mindfulness practices, ensuring a
user-friendly experience. The app provides free, confidential counseling 24/7,
connecting users to trained mental health professionals across India.
Video consultations add another layer to the existing audio call
services, allowing mental health professionals to conduct more thorough
assessments by observing the caller directly. This feature supports history
taking, clarifying concerns, and enables brief physical or Mental State Examinations
(MSE) when necessary. Initially, this service is available in Karnataka, Jammu
& Kashmir, and Tamil Nadu, with plans for expansion across the country.
Key Achievements
Tele MANAS has reached a significant milestone by effectively handling
over 14.7 lakh calls since its launch, demonstrating its vital role in
providing mental health support across India.
Key achievements of the
program include:
Establishment of 52 Tele MANAS Cells across various states, ensuring
local access to mental health services.
Collaboration with 23 Mentoring Institutes that enhance the program’s
capacity and outreach through expert guidance and support.
Creation of five Regional Coordinating Centres to streamline operations
and facilitate coordination among Tele MANAS Cells, ensuring efficient service
delivery.
These accomplishments highlight
the program's commitment to improving mental health care access and its effectiveness
in addressing the needs of individuals seeking support.
The National Tele Mental Health Programme, through its initiative Tele
MANAS, has made remarkable strides in enhancing mental health care
accessibility across India. By leveraging technology and a structured support
system, the program has effectively addressed the pressing mental health needs
of the population, particularly in underserved areas. The wide array of
services offered, including tele-counselling, tele-consultation, and referral
services, has enabled millions to seek help without barriers of distance or
cost. As Tele MANAS continues to evolve with the introduction of the mobile app
and video consultations, it is poised to further enrich the mental health
landscape in India. The recognition from global health authorities underscores
its innovative approach and impact on mental health outcomes. The journey of
Tele MANAS exemplifies a commitment to ensuring that mental health care is not
just a privilege for some but a fundamental right for all, fostering a
healthier and more supportive society. As it enters its third year, the program
stands as a testament to the importance of collaborative efforts in addressing
mental health challenges and promoting well-being across the nation.