Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: As stress, anxiety and emotional distress are being discussed more openly in India, the country’s national mental health helpline is ringing more than ever. Since its launch in October 2022, the Tele-MANAS service has handled over 34.34 lakh calls from people seeking psychological support, according to data shared in Parliament.The numbers also reveal where the demand is strongest. In the first two months of 2026, Uttar Pradesh recorded the highest number of calls — over 54,000, followed by Tamil Nadu (around 22,700), Karnataka (about 22,600) and Maharashtra (around 19,564).Parliamentary data also show that calls to the Tele-MANAS helpline have increased steadily since the programme began. In Karnataka, the NIMHANS centre handled 17,072 calls in 2023, rising to 23,442 in 2024 and further to 57,601 in 2025, while Tamil Nadu recorded over 78,000 calls in 2023 and more than 1.05 lakh in 2024 at one centre alone.The helpline, Tele-MANAS, operates under the National Tele Mental Health Programme (NTMHP) and allows people experiencing anxiety, depression, stress or emotional crises to connect with trained counsellors over the phone.Dr Naveen Kumar C, Professor of Psychiatry and Principal Investigator of the National Tele Mental Health Programme of India, said callers commonly report low mood, anxiety, sleep disturbances and stress related to exams, workplaces and relationships, a pattern seen across the country since the service began.The service currently functions through 53 Tele-MANAS centres across 36 states and Union territories, offering counselling in 20 languages depending on the language opted by states.The national capital Delhi recorded 5,738 calls between January and February 2026, handled by the Tele-MANAS centre at the Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences (IHBAS).“Most calls to Tele-MANAS relate to everyday emotional distress such as anxiety, sleep problems and relationship stress, while about 3–5% involve crises including suicidal thoughts,” said Dr Om Prakash, Professor of Psychiatry at IHBAS Delhi, adding that such calls are prioritised for immediate counselling and urgent referral. Nearly 80% of callers are aged 18–45.Counsellors are also authorised to conduct follow-up calls in situations requiring continued support, including cases involving suicidal thoughts, recent attempts, domestic or sexual violence, or when callers request further counselling.However, government data point to staff shortages at several centres, with many sanctioned posts lying vacant in some states, raising concerns about whether the system can keep pace with rising demand.Experts say the surge in calls reflects both increasing mental health stress and a gradual reduction in stigma around seeking psychological help.
