Source: PIB
Context: Tele MANAS (Tele Mental Health Assistance and Networking Across States) is a tele-mental health initiative launched by the Government of India under the National Tele Mental Health Programme (NTMHP) on October 10, 2022.
About Tele MANAS:
Need for Tele MANAS:
- Mental health crisis: 15% of India’s adult population requires mental health intervention, with a 70-92% treatment gap.
- High suicide rates: Over 1 lakh people die by suicide annually in India.
- Mental disorders: Mental disorders are the second leading cause of years lived with disability (YLDs).
- Untapped healthcare access: More than 80% of people with mental health issues in India do not seek help, despite mental healthcare being a statutory right under the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017.
Key features of Tele MANAS:
- 24/7 toll-free helpline: Provides phone-based counselling, psychotherapy, psychiatric consultations, and referral services.
- Accessibility: Designed to make mental health support easily available to individuals across remote and urban areas.
- Two-tier system: Tier 1 offers initial counselling and referral services, while Tier 2 provides specialist consultations and follow-up care, including e-prescriptions.
- Integrated care: Seamless connections to in-person services and other mental health interventions.
- WHO praised model: Recognized by the WHO as an effective, innovative model for large-scale mental health care delivery.
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