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Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan inaugurates Tele-Mental Health Assistance and Networking Across States (Tele-MANAS) Cell at AFMC, Pune

Tele-MANAS Cell to serve as a central psychological helpline for all Armed Forces beneficiaries across country.

December 1, 2023 Photo(s): By X / DGAFMS-MoD
General Anil Chauhan, CDS inaugurated the Tele-MANAS helpline node at AFMC, Pune in presence of Lt General Daljit Singh, DGAFMS and Lt General Narendra Kotwal, Director & Commandant AFMC on December 1, 2023. The event was attended by Dr Pratima Murthy, Director NIMHANS, Bengaluru, Indrani Kaushal Economic Advisor Ministry of Health and Mayank Tewari, Joint Secretary (Medical), Ministry of Defence. The first of its kind in the Armed Forces, it is a big step towards detection and prevention of mental health issues and stress related disorders. The CDS expressed hope and desire that the node will provide succour to all the needy and desirous soldiers and their dependants in the need of the hour.

Chief of Defence Staff, General Anil Chauhan, inaugurated a dedicated Tele-MANAS Cell for serving personnel and their dependents at the Armed Forces Medical College in Pune on December 1, 2023. This cell will serve as an extension of the Tele-Mental Health Assistance and Networking Across States (Tele-MANAS) initiative of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The cell will serve as a central psychological helpline for all Armed Forces beneficiaries across the country.

The Cell was inaugurated in the presence of DGAFMS Lt General Daljit Singh, Director & Commandant AFMC Lt General Narendra Kotwal, Director NIMHANS Dr Pratima Murthy, Joint Secretary, MoD Mayank Tewari, and other dignitaries.

Tele-MANAS, an initiative of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare launched last year, has witnessed an impressive response, receiving over 4,60,000 calls nationwide till date. With 51 active Tele-MANAS cells across 33 States and Union Territories, the service now handles 1,300+ calls daily in 20 languages, depicting a consistently progressive trend towards building a comprehensive digital mental health network in India.

Recognizing the unique stressors faced by the Indian military, the need for tele-mental health services in the Armed Forces has become evident. The operational environment, cultural challenges, and specific stressors related to regional conflicts necessitate a specialized approach to mental health care in Armed Forces.

In response to this need, the Director General Armed Forces Medical Services (DGAFMS) took the initiative to establish the AFMS Tele-MANAS Cell at AFMC, Pune with constant support and cooperation being extended by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The occasion was also marked by successful signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between MoH &FW and Ministry of Defence.

The AFMS Tele-MANAS Cell at AFMC will be operational 24x7, manned by psychological counsellors. Armed forces personnel in distress can call the toll-free number 14416 from anywhere in the country and avail the services. This service is poised to play a pivotal role in the future of mental health care delivery in Armed forces.