India Health Ministry Highlights Tele MANAS Call Surge Ahead of World Mental Health Day

India Health Ministry will mark World Mental Health Day with campaigns aimed at raising awareness, encouraging community dialogue, and promoting existing mental health resources such as helplines and counseling services across the nation.

Tele MANAS helpline, a toll‑free service launched by the ministry, has recorded 47.75 lakh calls, showing that millions of people have reached out for support, information, or crisis assistance since it began operating.

Callers report a range of concerns from anxiety and depression to acute stress, indicating that the helpline addresses both everyday mental health challenges and urgent crises, reflecting broad unmet needs in the population.

Officials say the high call volume highlights the need for expanded mental health infrastructure, integration of helpline data into public health planning, and increased funding to ensure sustainable support for vulnerable groups nationwide.