World Suicide Prevention Day today | Last year, we had 900 calls in Chandigarh, and about 90 showed intent to die: Expert

Manasvita, a framework for crisis intervention including suicide prevention, has been developed for Tele-MANAS counsellors

Written by Parul

Chandigarh | Updated: September 10, 2025 01:07 AM IST

As per data, while anxiety and depression are more common in women, more men than women seek help (Photo: Getty/Thinkstock)

Launched by the Union Health Ministry in 2022, Tele-MANAS (Tele Mental Health Assistance and Networking Across States) connects callers to trained counsellors and mental health professionals to provide immediate support and interventions for their psychological well-being. At the centre of this initiative in North India is the Department of Psychiatry at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, a mentoring institute and Regional Coordinating Centre (RCC) for several states, as well as a supervising centre for Chandigarh (GMCH-32) and Punjab.

“The larger intent here is to make people aware that help is available and initiate activities to promote mental health-seeking behaviour, address stigma to encourage people to reach out and seek help. We, over the years, have designed programmes for help-seeking behaviour, mass contact in schools, colleges, universities, offices, and one of the critical areas under Tele-Manas is suicide prevention,” explains Prof Subho Chakrabarti, Department of Psychiatry, who will now be heading the programme. Prof Chakrabarti adds that, as stigma is a big hurdle, the plan is to reach out to more people to create awareness. This is a 24/7 mental health helpline, and a person must dial 14416 (or 1-800-891-4416) to be connected to trained counsellors and mental health professionals in the 53 Tele-MANAS cells.

To address the growing concern of rising suicide rates in India, a framework for crisis intervention, including suicide prevention, has been developed for Tele-MANAS counsellors, called Manasvita, and this framework is mentioned in Module 5 of the Tele-MANAS Counsellor training course. Tele-MANAS counsellors are often the first point of contact for individuals in crisis, and studies have shown that the initial moments of interaction with a distressed caller are vital in determining the outcome of the call, explains Dr Rahul Chakravarty, who has been an integral part of the programme since its inception. Some of the key principles, models, and techniques taught include Psychological First Aid (PFA), where the counsellor listens attentively, assesses the risk of harm to self (suicide risk) or others, reassures the caller, provides relevant information, and refers them to Tier 1 Mental Health Professionals (MHP) when necessary.

“This is particularly important for callers in severe distress who need immediate attention. Counsellors are also taught to recognise danger signs, such as the risk of self-harm or suicidal thoughts, and to intervene appropriately. If a caller is in acute distress, immediate referral to Tier 1 or Tier 2 hospitals is advised. In some cases, the calls are de-identified with the help of IITB, and the authorities are informed for timely intervention and to save lives. Last year, in Chandigarh, we had 900 calls, and about 90 showed an intent to die, while in Punjab, we had more than 15,000 calls, and 400 expressed suicidal thoughts,” adds Dr Rahul.

As per data, while anxiety and depression are more common in women, more men than women seek help. Women also attempt more suicides, though suicide deaths are higher in males.

To tackle exam stress, the Tele MANAS initiative provides an accessible and confidential platform for students and their families to receive expert guidance, which includes initial assessment, counselling, and, if necessary, referral to higher levels of mental health care. As per guidelines, students are encouraged to express their emotional concerns without fear of judgment. Counsellors are trained to listen empathetically and offer practical techniques, such as relaxation exercises, time management strategies, and breathing techniques, to help reduce anxiety. Where signs of deeper psychological distress are observed, callers are directed to nearby district mental health centres or psychologists for ongoing support. “The attempt is to connect the dots, and initiate dialogue to prevent mental distress, suicidal thoughts and save lives,” explains Dr Rahul.

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