Chandigarh— The State Government’s Tele-MANAS mental health helpline has emerged as a powerful support system for citizens battling emotional distress, anxiety, depression, and other mental health concerns.
Since its launch in November 2022, the helpline has received more than 16,000 calls, reflecting growing public trust in accessible and stigma-free mental healthcare services. Citizens can access the service free of cost by dialling the toll-free numbers 14416 or 1-800-891-4416, which are operational for mental health counselling and psychosocial support throughout Haryana.
In a major step towards strengthening crisis intervention mechanisms, Tele-MANAS have now been integrated with Haryana’s 112 Emergency Response System. Under this arrangement, suicide-related distress calls received through the emergency helpline are immediately diverted to trained Tele-MANAS counsellors for urgent psychological support and counselling.
Health officers say this integration has significantly improved the state’s ability to provide timely mental health intervention during emergencies and has added a critical layer of support within Haryana’s public health and emergency response framework.
The initiative, launched under the National Tele Mental Health Programme, has handled 16,159 calls as of May 10, 2026, offering free, confidential, and compassionate counselling support to people across the state. The growing response as a clear sign that conversations around mental health are gradually becoming more open and accepted in Haryana.
Nearly 10,000 Calls in Just One Year
One of the most striking indicators of the initiative’s growing impact is the sharp increase in usage over the past year. Between May 2025 and April 2026 alone, the helpline received 9,669 calls — accounting for more than 60 percent of the total calls since the service began. Health officers say the surge reflects rising awareness, increasing trust in counselling services, and improved outreach efforts across the state.
Dr. Misra stated that the free of cost service can be availed by dialling the toll-free numbers 14416 or 1-800-891-4416, which is operational for mental health counselling and psychosocial support throughout Haryana.
Rural Haryana Shows Strong Participation
What makes the initiative especially noteworthy is its deep reach into rural Haryana. According to official data, a majority of calls have come from rural and semi-urban areas, indicating that the service has successfully bridged a long-standing gap in mental healthcare access beyond major cities.
The data also provides insight into the nature of mental health concerns being reported. The most common issues include sadness, examination stress, anxiety, grief, substance abuse, and suicidal thoughts. Around five per cent of the calls were related to children and adolescents, highlighting the growing need for emotional support among younger age groups and families. Approximately 40 per cent of the calls received during the last year were linked to diagnosed mental health disorders, underlining the importance of early intervention and continuous counselling support.
