The Union Health Ministry has launched a 24×7 tele-mental health service called Tele Mental Health Assistance and Networking Across States (Tele-MANAS) initiative on the occasion of World Mental Health Day.
The service will start with 20 states and UTs and will subsequently be expanded to the entire country.
Tele-MANAS aims to increase access to mental healthcare across the country, including the hard-to-reach areas.
The country-wide network will provide counselling, consultation with a specialist, and e-prescriptions.
The service can be accessed by calling the helpline number 14416 and 1-800-91-4416.
The programme was first announced in 2022-23 Budget while acknowledging the mental health crisis in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.
