On World Mental Health Day 2025, India rolled out fresh upgrades to its National Tele Mental Health Programme—known as Tele MANAS—right in New Delhi. Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda unveiled the changes, aiming to make mental‑health help easier for everyone, no matter where they live or how they speak.
### New features for a broader reach
The Tele MANAS app now supports 10 regional languages in addition to Hindi and English, including Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Odia, and Punjabi. That means you can get support in the language you feel most comfortable with.
Accessibility got a boost too. Visual‑impairment‑friendly options help the app work for people with lower‑vision needs. And a new chatbot, called Asmi, lets users chat for quick answers about symptoms, resources, or next steps.
In emergencies, the app offers instant guidance and directions—a critical tool when you’re feeling unsafe or in crisis.
### Big stats, big impact
Since launching, Tele MANAS has handled nearly 2.8 million calls. Around 4,000 people reach out each day to trained counsellors who speak more than 20 languages. Men and women use the service in almost equal numbers, showing growing awareness across the country.
The Union Health Secretary highlighted that Tele MANAS is part of India’s push toward universal health coverage. By offering timely, professional help via technology, India hopes to prevent self‑harm and break down stigma around mental illness.
### Celebrity partnership
Deepika Padukone was named the country’s Mental Health Ambassador. The actress will use her platform to spread awareness and encourage people to seek help from official government‑approved services.
### How the upgrade will hold up
Experts say the new modular design lets the app add more tools over time while keeping data secure and private. The NIMHANS team will continue to tweak the platform based on user feedback.
### Looking ahead
India’s health ministry treats mental health as a top national priority, working alongside the Ayushman Arogya Mandir and District Mental Health Programme initiatives. With technology and outreach, the goal is to narrow the treatment gap and ensure no citizen is left without help.
Stakeholders are urged to share their thoughts on the updated app so that any issues can be addressed quickly. As India progresses toward a fully inclusive mental‑health ecosystem, these new features bring more people closer to the support they need—anytime, anywhere.
Source: aninews
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