Tele MANAS

What is Tele-MANAS?

• Tele-MANAS, (Tele Mental Health Assistance and Networking Across States), is a mental health initiative launched in October 2022 by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

Services Offered:

• Tele-MANAS aims to provide free tele-mental health services around the clock, particularly to underserved and remote areas, across the country.

Two-Tier System:

The initiative comprises a 2-tier system:

1. Tier 1: Comprising state Tele-MANAS cells with trained counselors and mental health specialists.
2. Tier 2: Specialists from the District Mental Health Programme (DMHP) or Medical College resources for physical consultation or audio-visual consultations via e-Sanjeevani.

Operational Status:

• Currently, 51 operational Tele-MANAS cells are spread across 36 states and union territories, offering services in 20 different languages.

Toll-Free Helpline and Access:

• The initiative provides a toll-free, 24/7 helpline number, 14416, where callers can choose their preferred language. The service is also available at 1-800-891-4416.

Interactive Voice Response System:

• The helpline operates as an Interactive Voice Response (IVRS)-based audio call only, with a timely auto-callback approach.

Initial Counseling and Triage:

• The automated callback service provides callers with initial assistance from a trained counselor.

Specialist Care:

• Based on the required level of care, the counselor either provides care within their capabilities or refers to a mental health specialist.

Specialized Care Options:

• If specialised care is needed, the call is handled by a mental health specialist, providing both audio- and video-based consultations.

Urgent In-Person Intervention:

• For urgent in-person interventions or complex evaluations, callers are referred to the nearest in-person service for a physical consultation or an audio-visual consultation through e-Sanjeevani.

Collaboration:

• These centers include Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs) and tertiary care centers as part of the DMHP.

Clinical Psychologists:

1. Clinical psychologists are mental health professionals with highly specialized training in diagnosing and treating mental, behavioral, and emotional illnesses.
2. They typically hold a doctorate degree but are not technically medical doctors.

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