The Government has launched a “National Tele Mental Health Programme” on 10th October, 2022, to further improve access to quality mental health counselling and care services in the country. As on 03.03.2026, 36 States/ UTs have set up 53 Tele MANAS Cells. Tele-MANAS services are available in 20 languages based on language opted by States. More than 34.34 lakh calls have been handled on the helpline number since inception.

The Government has also launched Tele MANAS Mobile Application on the occasion of World Mental Health Day - October 10, 2024. Tele-MANAS Mobile Application is a comprehensive mobile platform that has been developed to provide support for mental health issues ranging from well-being to mental disorders. 47,487 referrals were made for non-emergency in-person services, alongside 9,590 referrals for further detailed clinical evaluation. To connect individuals with expert care 19,135 referrals were directed to Mental Health Professionals (MHPs). Additionally, 1,319 individuals were routed to the District Mental Health Programme (DMHP) for localized, ongoing support. Addressing cases that require multi-disciplinary attention 10,240 individuals were referred to medical or surgical specialists. For acute mental health crisis, 5,083 urgent referrals were made to psychiatric hospital emergencies, with another 345 directed to medical colleges and tertiary hospitals for advance clinical management.

The Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram (RKSK) of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare through its interventions viz. Adolescent Friendly Health Clinics (AFHC), Peer Education Programme and Adolescent Health and Wellness Days (AH&WD) creates awareness on mental health issues and provides counselling services. Peer Educators form groups of 15-20 boys and girls in the community and conduct weekly one to two hour participatory sessions on adolescent health including mental health and wellbeing. Under RKSK, Mental health is an integral part of the strategy and includes training of Mos, ANMs and Counsellors on issues of common adolescent mental health and management of the same.

The Manodarpan an initiative of the Ministry of Education provides psychosocial support to students, teachers and families through an online platform offering advisories, audio-visual resources and guidance on emotional well-being. Interactive sessions such as Sahyog and Paricharcha help students cope with academic stress and emotional challenges.

“Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health” is incorporated as a dedicated module under Ayushman Bharat School Health & Wellness Programme. Health and Wellness Ambassadors (Teachers) are trained on mental health along with other thematic areas of the programme, take interactive sessions with the students and percolate the messages through weekly sessions promoting joyful learning.

Tele MANAS teams have conducted numerous outreach activities and awareness sessions in schools, colleges, hostels, ITIs, Universities, NGOs, old-age homes, orphanages, health facilities, workplaces and professional gatherings. Special initiatives have been held for Indian railway loco pilots and their families, reserve police personnel, income tax officials, nursing and social work students, and lay counsellors, covering several thousand participants during the period.

The Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Shri. Prataprao Jadhav stated this in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.

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SR

 

HFW/ Update on Tele-manas/20 March 2026/1

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