New Delhi: Tele Manas, launched in 2022 aiming to provide 24x7 tele mental health services, has received 1 lakh calls so far since being operational, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya informed on Monday.
The minister tweeted, "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."
"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," he said.
Tele Manas, or Tele Mental Health Assistance and Networking Across States, was announced in the Union government's Budget 2022. The Budget also announced the National Tele Mental Health Programme of India and made the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare implement both.
The Tele Manas is a two-tier system in which Tier 1 comprises the State Tele MANAS cells. This includes trained counsellors and mental health specialists. Tier 2 comprises specialists at District Mental Health Programme(DMHP)/Medical College resources for physical consultation and/or eSanjeevani for audio-visual consultation, the health ministry said.
There is a toll-free number with which the public can access Tele Manas services. The call will be IVRS-based audio calling and has a timely auto-call-back approach. The automated callback service would allow a trained counsellor to attend to the individual.
The councillor would provide the care needed for the caller if within their capabilities or refer them to specialist care.
The health ministry said that if the caller required specialized care, the call would be handled by a mental health specialist (clinical psychologist, psychiatric social worker, psychiatric nurse, or psychiatrist). This will have both video and audio options, it said.
The ministry added that Tele Manas would provide urgent in-person intervention/complex evaluations and management if the caller needed the same. The caller would be referred to the nearest in-person service for a physical consultation. An audio-visual consultation, if needed, with a specialist will be arranged through eSanjeevani. Centres ranging from Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs) to tertiary care centres as part of the DMHP will be involved in this.