Tele MANAS Revolutionizing Mental Health Care in India
Over 14.7 Lakh Calls Served in Two Years, Transforming Mental Healthcare Accessibility
It is said that mental, neurological, and substance use disorders account for over 10% of the global disease burden, but about 85% of individuals in low-income and middle-income countries lack access to treatment.
Persons with mental health issues face many challenges while reaching out to mental health services. These challenges are compounded among people from marginalised populations or hard-to-reach areas, leading to inconsistent usage of these services. The consequent treatment gap can be attributed to the unequal distribution of mental health resources and the variable implementation of mental health policies.
Over the past decade, the Government of India has taken many measures to address these shortcomings and ensure equitable distribution of mental health services. The National Mental Health Policy (NMHPolicy), introduced in 2014, alongside the Mental Healthcare Act (MHCA) of 2017, outlines strategies for improving mental health and safeguarding individuals’ rights. The NMHPolicy focuses on providing comprehensive care, spanning outpatient to community-based services. It suggests a higher resource allocation in making services more accessible and its integration into general healthcare. It also emphasised the role of research, such as national surveys, to guide policy planning and execution.
There is also 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 centers, 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 counseling, 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 specialized 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 24×7 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 24×7 tele-mental health facilities in every State and Union Territory.
• Building a Comprehensive Mental Health Network: Establishing an integrated system that goes beyond counseling by offering medical and psychosocial interventions, video consultations with specialists, e-prescriptions, follow-up care, and connections to in-person services.
• Reaching Vulnerable Populations: Prioritizing 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 audiovisual 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 5 Regional Coordinating Centers 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.
Conclusion
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-counseling, 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.
