Union Health Minister Shri J P Nadda Launches New Initiatives for Tele MANAS App on World Mental Health Day 2025
On World Mental Health Day 2025, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda, unveiled significant enhancements to the National Tele Mental Health Programme, known as Tele MANAS. The upgraded Tele MANAS app now features a multi-lingual interface, accessibility options, and an emergency response module, aiming to improve mental health support across India. Additionally, renowned actress Deepika Padukone has been appointed as the Mental Health Ambassador to raise awareness and encourage the public to seek mental health resources.
New Features of Tele MANAS App
The Tele MANAS app has undergone substantial improvements to enhance user experience and accessibility. It now supports ten regional languages, including Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Odia, and Punjabi, alongside English and Hindi. This initiative aims to make mental health services more accessible to diverse populations across India. The app also introduces a chatbot named ‘Asmi,’ which assists users in navigating mental health resources and seeking help. Furthermore, the app now includes an emergency module, providing users with timely guidance during critical situations. These enhancements are designed to ensure that individuals from various backgrounds can access mental health support easily and effectively.
Government Commitment to Mental Health
During the launch event, Shri Nadda emphasized the importance of mental health in the overall well-being of the nation. He stated, “A sound mind leads to a sound body, and a healthy mind and body lead to a healthy nation.” The Minister reiterated India’s commitment to providing equitable and inclusive access to mental health services. He highlighted that since its inception, Tele MANAS has received approximately 28 lakh calls, with trained counselors assisting individuals in over 20 languages. The app allows around 4,000 people to seek support daily, reflecting a growing awareness of mental health issues among the population.
Role of Mental Health Ambassador
In a significant move to promote mental health awareness, Deepika Padukone has been appointed as the Mental Health Ambassador. Her role will focus on encouraging individuals to utilize government-approved mental health resources and seek timely support. Shri Nadda expressed confidence that Padukone’s involvement will help normalize discussions around mental health and reduce stigma associated with it. The partnership aims to disseminate information widely, making mental health a priority in public health discussions across the country.
Future of Tele MANAS and Mental Health Initiatives
The Union Health Secretary, Smt. Punya Salila Srivastava, highlighted that mental health is a key focus of this year’s United Nations theme. She noted that initiatives like Tele MANAS are crucial for achieving universal health coverage in India. The app aims to prevent self-destructive behaviors and reduce stigma through timely and empathetic mental health care. Stakeholders are encouraged to provide feedback on the app’s enhancements to ensure continuous improvement. Experts believe that the expanded features of Tele MANAS will significantly increase accessibility to mental health support, ultimately contributing to a more resilient and inclusive mental health ecosystem in India.
Observer Voice is the one stop site for National, International news, Sports, Editor’s Choice, Art/culture contents, Quotes and much more. We also cover historical contents. Historical contents includes World History, Indian History, and what happened today. The website also covers Entertainment across the India and World.
Follow Us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, & LinkedIn
