Article Title: “Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment Launches ‘Kiran’: A 24/7 Helpline for Mental Health Support”
In recent developments, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has initiated a round-the-clock, toll-free helpline known as ‘Kiran’ to provide aid to individuals experiencing mental health issues such as anxiety, stress, depression, and suicidal tendencies. This project follows the ‘Manodarpan’ initiative, launched by the Ministry of Education, aiming to offer psycho-social support and counselling to students for their mental well-being.
Key Features of the Kiran Helpline
Primarily, the helpline aims to serve three categories of people – those in distress, dealing with pandemic induced psychological problems, and facing a mental health emergency. The services offered include early screening, first-aid, psychological support, distress management, and promotion of positive behaviours.
The helpline, functioning in 13 languages, boasts an extensive network of 660 clinical/rehabilitation psychologists and 668 psychiatrists volunteering to assist those in need. The coordination of the helpline is managed by the National Institute for the Empowerment of Persons with Multiple Disabilities (NIEPMD), Chennai and the National Institute of Mental Health Rehabilitation (NIMHR), Sehore. These institutes fall under the purview of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. The helpline operators have been carefully trained not to ask for any identification details from the callers, ensuring their privacy and anonymity.
The Growing Need for Mental Health Support
The COVID-19 pandemic has amplified the uncertainties faced by individuals ranging from personal health risks to economic anxieties. As per a survey conducted by NIMHANS in 2015-2016, 10.6% of adults and 7.3% of adolescents were battling mental illness, with a stark prevalence in urban metros. There exists a significant treatment gap, with 70% to 92% of those in need not receiving appropriate care.
Suicide was identified as the leading cause of death in India in 2016 among those aged 15–39 years, indicating that mental health concerns cannot be ignored. At any given time, approximately one in every four persons could be dealing with some form of mental health issue, making mental illnesses one of the top causes of disability and ill-health worldwide.
Initial Steps Taken by the Government
Recognising the severity of this public health crisis, the government has undergone several initiatives such as the National Mental Health Program (NMHP) since 1982 and the Mental HealthCare Act of 2017. The latter assures every person affected by mental health issues access to healthcare and treatment from government-run or funded services.
The Path Ahead for Mental Healthcare
Prioritising mental health is crucial, from immediate crisis intervention and helplines to a focus on preventive mental health and stigma reduction. Leveraging digital transformations such as the National Digital Health Mission can prove instrumental in providing widespread mental healthcare.
Campaigns like the Swachh Mansikta Abhiyan aim to increase public awareness about mental health. Additionally, a boost in funding for mental healthcare is required, as India’s current allocation stands at a meager 0.05% of its annual healthcare budget, significantly less than even the average spending of other low-income countries.
Cooperating to promote and preserve mental wellbeing, whether it be through government initiatives like Kiran and Manodarpan or through individual efforts and understanding, is more important now than ever before.
