Bengaluru: The integration of Tele Manas with the Namma 112 helpline in Feb is reshaping the way emergency response functions in Bengaluru, enabling faster identification of mental health crises and more coordinated and specialised interventions.Tele Manas (14416) is the national mental health helpline number of the Union health ministry, for which Nimhans is the apex nodal centre. Since the integration, Tele Manas has received 4,052 calls from Bengaluru between Feb 4 and March 22. The integration has allowed emergency responders to identify mental health distress during calls and connect individuals to trained counsellors and mental health professionals in real time, ensuring timely and appropriate intervention.One such intervention involved a 33-year-old man who made 34 calls to 112 marked by aggression, disorganised speech, and delusions — claiming to be a politician’s son, a senior police officer, or even historical figures like Gandhi and Napoleon, while alleging abduction and poisoning. Though he was identified as a missing person and reunited with his family, the calls continued. Following the helpline integration, the case was escalated to Tele Manas as signs of mental illness were recognised by the responders. A mental health professional identified a four-year history of untreated psychiatric illness, medication non-adherence, aggression, and sleep disturbances. Coordinated efforts between 112, Tele Manas, and the family led to his admission to a tertiary healthcare centre, with significant improvement within three days. In another case that underscored the system’s life-saving potential, Dr Naveen Kumar C, professor of psychiatry and head of community psychiatry at Nimhans, shared the instance of a 35-year-old man from Bengaluru who contacted Tele Manas with persistent suicidal thoughts. A counsellor provided immediate emotional support before escalating the case to a mental health professional, who, upon assessment, found the caller to be in a secluded location and in possession of poison, indicating imminent risk. With support from local police and emergency services, the individual was located, safely rescued, and taken to a hospital for care. “The most common complaints regarding which callers have contacted Tele Manas include sadness of mood and related symptoms, generalised anxiety/panic/phobia-related symptoms, stress related to exams, workplace or relationships, and sleep disturbances, followed by other issues linked to bio-socio-occupational dysfunction,” Dr Naveen said. Most callers from Bengaluru were in the 20–30 age group, followed by those aged 30–40, with a slight predominance of male callers (56.5%), he added.The International Institute of Information Technology Bangalore (IIITB) is providing the technological backbone for this initiative. TK Srikanth, professor of practice and head of IIITB’s e-health research centre, said, “A customisable IVR, centralised and scalable infrastructure, minimal requirements for users, strong privacy safeguards, and continuous training have enabled consistent and accessible mental health support.”
