Lok Sabha Q&A: Tele-MANAS Surpasses 32 Lakh Calls While Expanding to 20 Regional Languages
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Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
The Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, informed the Lok Sabha today that the National Tele Mental Health Programme has reached a significant milestone in expanding mental health care accessibility across India. Launched on October 10, 2022, the initiative has established 53 Tele-MANAS Cells across 36 States and Union Territories as of February 2, 2026. The service has handled more than 32.84 lakh calls since its inception, providing critical support through a multi-tiered network that now includes video consultation and a comprehensive mobile application.
Pillars of Digital Mental Health Expansion The update identifies three core areas of institutional and technological growth:
Linguistic and Regional Inclusivity: Tele-MANAS services are now available in 20 languages. The mobile application has specifically expanded to include 10 regional languages—such as Assamese, Gujarati, and Tamil—ensuring that support is culturally and linguistically accessible.
Inclusive and Accessible Design: The mobile platform features a specially designed digital interface and a toll-free line for visually challenged persons, allowing them to access mental health services without the need for screen interaction.
Specialized Institutional Support: A dedicated Tele-MANAS Cell has been established at the Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC), Pune. This cell provides tailored tele-mental health assistance to Armed Forces personnel and their dependents, addressing the unique stressors of military life.
What is the “National Tele Mental Health Programme” (Tele-MANAS)? Tele-MANAS, which stands for Tele-Mental Health Assistance and Networking Across States, is India’s 24/7 toll-free mental health helpline and networking system. It was launched to provide a first point of contact for individuals experiencing mental distress, ranging from daily well-being concerns to serious mental disorders. The programme operates as a hub-and-spoke model, where regional cells (hubs) coordinate with tertiary care institutions (spokes) to provide counseling and, when necessary, refer patients to in-person clinical care.
Policy Relevance
The continued expansion of Tele-MANAS represents a transition toward fully digitized and decentralized mental health governance. By institutionalizing a 24/7 digital “safety net,” the Ministry of Health is addressing the severe shortage of mental health professionals in rural and remote areas, ensuring that help is always just a phone call away.
Strategic Impact:
Scaling Triage through Video Consultation: The launch of video consultation upgrades the service from simple crisis counseling to more nuanced clinical assessment, potentially reducing the burden on physical psychiatric wards.
Data-Driven Health Planning: Utilizing the WHO Rapid Assessment Report (2024) on Tele-MANAS allows the government to identify “utilisation patterns” and reallocate resources to states with higher mental health distress levels.
Empowering Marginalized Groups: The specific focus on visually challenged accessibility and regional language expansion ensures that the “Digital India” health mission does not leave behind the most vulnerable.
Strengthening Military Resilience: The AFMC Pune Cell serves as a model for “Targeted Mental Health Missions,” providing a confidential and specialized pathway for personnel who might otherwise avoid seeking help due to stigma.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders: How can the Ministry of Health integrate the ‘Tele-MANAS Mobile App’ with the ‘Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission’ (ABDM) to allow for seamless digital referrals from tele-counselors to local in-person psychiatric facilities?
Follow the full news here: Update on Tele-MANAS | PIB