New Delhi : On the occasion of the World Mental Health Day the Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandviya has launched a 24×7 tele-mental health service called Tele Mental Health Assistance and Networking Across 20 states and UTs (Tele-MANAS) that will subsequently be expanded to the entire country.
The aim of Tele-MANAS is to increase access of mental healthcare across the country. The helpline number 14416 and 1-800-91-4416 are meant to access the service of Tele-MANAS. Callers will be transferred to a trained counsellor in their areas who will do the preliminary counselling and consultation. If the counsellor feels that the caller needs more counselling the caller will be connected online to mental health specialists such as clinical psychologists, psychiatric social workers, a psychiatric nurse, or a psychiatrist. The country-wide network will provide counselling, consultation with a specialist, and e-prescriptions. The callers that require in-person services will be referred to a health and wellness centre or primary health centre, or a tertiary care centre.
