On the 7th of September, the Central Government launched a 24×7 helpline for mental rehabilitation.
The newly launched helpline named KIRAN would provide psychological help to people in India.
Thaawarchand Gehlot, the Social Justice and Empowerment Minister of India, inaugurated KIRAN.
Prabodh Seth, Joint Secretary at Social Justice and Empowerment ministry, presented the features of the helpline centre and benefits. The helpline would offer mental health rehabilitation services like early screening, first aid, psychological support, distress management, mental wellbeing, promoting positive behaviour and psychological crisis management.
During the launch, Mr. Gehlot said, “The helpline will function as a lifeline to provide advice, counselling and reference in 13 languages to individuals, families, NGOs, parent associations, professional associations, rehabilitation institutes, hospitals or anyone in need of support across the country.” He further added, “I hope this helpline will also be very useful for family members of those with mental illness.”
KIRAN would be functional 24X7 with technical coordination of BSNL services, 660 clinicals working with it and 668 psychiatrics.
In addition, the centre would be available in 13 different languages including Hindi, Assamese, Tamil, Marathi, Odia, Telugu, Malayalam, Gujarati, Punjabi, Kannada, Bengali, Urdu and English.
Prabodh Seth explained the functioning of the helpline and said, after dialing the toll free number one needs to choose language, following which they would be connected to their native or desired state’s helpline centre.
The callers will then be connected to mental health experts who will help to resolve the issue or refer and connect to external help (clinical psychologists or rehabilitation psychologists or psychiatrists.)
National Institute for the Empowerment of Persons with Multiple Disabilities (NIEPMD,) Chennai and National Institute of Mental Health Rehabilitation (NIMHR,) Sehore are coordinated with these helplines, providing best doctors and psychiatrists.
In addition to the NIEPMD and NIMHR, the Indian Association of Clinical Psychologists (IACP), Indian Psychiatrists Association (IPA) and Indian Psychiatric Social Workers Association (IPSWA) would also provide medical experts.
People having mental health issues related to anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, suicide, depression, panic attacks adjustment disorders, post traumatic stress disorders and substance abuse are advised to reach to KIRAN and take medical help.
The toll free number of KIRAN is 1800-599-0019.
Stay tuned for further updates.
