New Delhi: Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Jagat Prakash Nadda launched new features of the Tele MANAS App under the National Tele Mental Health Programme on World Mental Health Day in New Delhi.
The enhanced version introduces a multilingual user interface, a chatbot for user interaction, and an emergency support module.
Expanding Digital Access to Mental Health Care
The upgraded app will now support ten regional languages, along with English and Hindi, making it more accessible to people across the country. Nadda said that India is committed to ensuring equitable and inclusive access to mental health services. He added that the new features will help the government respond effectively to mental health emergencies and expand digital mental health support to remote areas.
Growing Impact of Tele MANAS
Highlighting the impact of the initiative, the Union Health Minister informed that since its launch, Tele MANAS has received around 28 lakh calls. Trained counsellors are assisting citizens in more than 20 languages. On average, about 4,000 people reach out to the platform every day, reflecting the growing trust in the service.
Focus on Universal Mental Health Coverage
Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava noted that mental health has been recognised as a priority theme by the United Nations this year. She said that India’s digital health initiatives, including Tele MANAS, are aligned with the goal of universal health coverage.
Deepika Padukone Named Mental Health Ambassador
To boost awareness and encourage conversations around mental health, actress Deepika Padukone has been appointed as the Mental Health Ambassador for the initiative.
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