General Anil Chauhan, the Chief of Defence Staff, officially launched a dedicated Tele-MANAS Cell catering to serving personnel and their dependents at the Armed Forces Medical College in Pune on December 1, 2023. This new cell serves as an extension of the Tele-Mental Health Assistance and Networking Across States (Tele MANAS) initiative under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, functioning as a central psychological helpline for all Armed Forces beneficiaries nationwide.
The inauguration ceremony witnessed the presence of several dignitaries, including DGAFMS Lt Gen Daljit Singh, Director & Commandant AFMC Lt Gen Narendra Kotwal, Director NIMHANS Dr Pratima Murthy, Joint Secretary, MoD Shri Mayank Tewari, among others.
The Tele MANAS initiative, launched last year by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, has garnered an impressive response, receiving over 460,000 calls across the country to date. With 51 active Tele MANAS cells operating in 33 States and Union Territories, the service handles over 1,300 calls daily in 20 languages, illustrating a consistent and positive trend in building a comprehensive digital mental health network across India.
Acknowledging the unique stressors encountered by the Indian military, the necessity for tele-mental health services in the Armed Forces has become apparent. The operational environment, cultural challenges, and specific stress factors related to regional conflicts demand a specialized approach to mental health care within the Armed Forces.
In response, the Director General Armed Forces Medical Services (DGAFMS) took the initiative to establish the AFMS Tele-MANAS Cell at AFMC, Pune, with continuous support and collaboration from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The occasion also marked the successful signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between MoH &FW and the Ministry of Defence.
Operational around the clock, the AFMS Tele-MANAS Cell at AFMC will be staffed by psychological counselors. Armed forces personnel in distress can avail the services by calling the toll-free number 14416 from anywhere in the country. This service is expected to play a crucial role in the future delivery of mental health care within the Armed Forces.