Tele-MANAS Helpline Handles Over 24 Lakh Calls Since 2022 Launch, RTI Reveals

Operated under the aegis of the NIMHANS, Bengaluru, the helpline offers 24x7 free tele-mental health services, especially for remote and underserved areas.

The Tele-MANAS helpline, a flagship initiative of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, has handled over 24 lakh calls since its launch in October 2022, emerging as a key mental health support system across India, according to a Right to Information (RTI) reply.

The RTI was filed by Kota-based activist and advocate Sujeet Swami in June 2024, with the response provided on July 31. Operated under the aegis of the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru, the helpline offers 24x7 free tele-mental health services, especially for remote and underserved areas.

Between December 1, 2022 and July 24, 2025, the service attended to 24,25,885 calls from 37 states and Union Territories, averaging 2,511 calls per day.

Uttar Pradesh accounted for the highest number of calls at 4,39,164, followed by Tamil Nadu with 3,87,190, Odisha with 2,30,117, Maharashtra with 1,83,442, and Rajasthan with 39,996. Lakshadweep reported the lowest at 722 calls.

The RTI data also highlighted call distribution by age group. The 31-60 age bracket led with 2,86,286 calls, followed by the 19-30 group with 1,98,409, and those aged 60 and above with 37,745 calls.

Callers reported a variety of concerns, including 43,346 related to study stress, 22,740 linked to job issues, 73,377 to financial problems, 17,826 to relationship issues, and 18,377 stemming from family conflicts.

Sujeet Swami, who filed the RTI, said, “Despite a lack of widespread awareness and promotion, the Tele-MANAS helpline is receiving 2,511 calls daily. This is a clear indicator that mental health is a pressing national issue.”

He added, “The central government and state administrations must now seriously consider developing a uniform National Mental Health Policy to address this growing crisis.”

Swami further noted the hesitation many still feel in seeking formal help. “People often struggle silently or seek solutions from untrained family members, which can exacerbate their problems. There is an urgent need for robust awareness campaigns and accessible mental health infrastructure,” he said.

The helpline, accessible at 14416 or 1-800-891-4416, supports multiple languages to ensure inclusivity.

In view of rising concerns among minors, Swami and seven other mental health experts from Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Haryana have filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Rajasthan High Court’s Jaipur bench. The petition seeks the implementation of a uniform mental health curriculum and mandatory psychological counsellors in all schools, colleges, and universities across Rajasthan.

The PIL cites suicide data from Kota, Jhalawar, Baran, Sikar, Jodhpur, and Jaipur between 2020 and 2025, underscoring the urgency for stronger mental health support systems in educational institutions.

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