**Executive Summary**
This document is a response to an unstarred question in the Rajya Sabha, scheduled for December 5th, 2025, concerning the Tele-Mental Health Programme (Tele-MANAS). It details the current status of implementation, accessibility features, and usage statistics of the Tele-MANAS platform. The report includes data on user numbers from Chhattisgarh and Bihar.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Tele-MANAS Program Launch and Objectives:**
* The "National Tele Mental Health Programme" was launched on October 10th, 2022, to improve access to mental health counselling and care.
* **Tele-MANAS Mobile Application:**
* A mobile application was launched on October 10, 2024, offering support for mental health issues.
* The application now supports 20 languages including Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Odia, and Punjabi, in addition to English and Hindi.
* The application assists visually challenged persons with a user-friendly interface and a toll-free phone line option without screen use.
* **Program Reach and Usage:**
* As of November 27, 2025, 36 States/UTs have established 53 Tele MANAS Cells.
* Tele-MANAS services are available in 20 languages.
* More than 29.82 lakh calls have been handled on the helpline number since inception.
* The platform has handled 12,33,399 calls in the current year.
* User statistics for Chhattisgarh and Bihar since the program's inception are provided for fiscal years 2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25 and 2025-26.
* **Service Enhancements:**
* Video consultation has been added as an upgrade to the existing audio calling facility.
* **Support for Armed Forces:**
* A dedicated Tele-MANAS Cell has been established at the Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC), Pune.
* This cell provides tele-mental health assistance to armed forces personnel and their dependents.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: General Public**
* **Impact:** Improved access to mental health counselling and care services, particularly through expanded language support and accessibility features for visually impaired individuals.
* **Action Required:** Awareness of available services through the Tele-MANAS platform and utilization of these services as needed.
**Stakeholder: Armed Forces Personnel and Dependents**
* **Impact:** Dedicated mental health assistance and support tailored to the unique needs of service members and their families.
* **Action Required:** Awareness of the Tele-MANAS Cell at AFMC, Pune, and utilization of these services as needed.
**Stakeholder: State Governments/UTs**
* **Impact:** Responsibility for setting up and maintaining Tele-MANAS cells and ensuring service availability in local languages.
* **Action Required:** Establish and maintain Tele-MANAS Cells, offer services in locally relevant languages and promote the service to residents.
Key Entities Referenced
Tele-MANAS: National Tele Mental Health Programme to improve access to mental health counselling and care services
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare: Union Ministry responsible for implementing the Tele-MANAS program.
Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC), Pune: Location of a dedicated Tele-MANAS Cell to extend tele-mental health assistance and support to all Armed Forces service personnel and their dependents
Bihar: State where Tele-MANAS is being implemented.
Chhattisgarh: State where Tele-MANAS is being implemented.
GOVERNMENTOFINDIA
MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
RAJYASABHA
UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 952
TOBE ANSWERED ON05thDECEMBER, 2025
TELE-MENTALHEALTHPROGRAMME (TELE-MANAS)
952. SHRIPARBHUBHAINAGARBHAI VASAVA:
SMT.KAMLESH JANGDE:
DR. NISHIKANTDUBEY:
SHRIBASAVARAJ BOMMAI:
SHRIDILIPSAIKIA:
SHRIDIDYUTBARAN MAHATO:
SHRITEJASVI SURYA:
SHRIMUKESHKUMAR CHANDRAKAANTDALAL:
SMT.VIJAYLAKSHMI DEVI:
SHRIPRADEEPKUMAR SINGH:
SHRIDINESHBHAI MAKWANA:
SHRIPRAVEENPATEL:
SMT.MAHIMAKUMARIMEWAR:
SMT.MALARAJYALAXMI SHAH:
SHRIMANOJ TIWARI:
SHRIBALABHADRAMAJHI:
SHRIKHAGEN MURMU:
Will the Minister of HEALTHANDFAMILYWELFAREbe pleasedtostate:
(a) the current status of implementation of the enhanced Tele-Mental Health Programme (Tele-
MANAS)andthe newfeaturesintroducedinthe Tele-MANAS App;
(b) whether the application has been made available in regional languages and for persons with
disabilitiestoimprove accessibility andif so, the detailsthereof; and
(c) the number of users who have availed mental health services through the Tele-MANAS
platform since its inception including Chhattisgarh and Bihar during the current year and 3
years, year-wise?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OFSTATE IN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND
FAMILYWELFARE
(SHRIPRATAPRAO JADHAV)
(a) to (c) The Government has launched a “National Tele Mental Health Programme” on 10th
October,2022,tofurther improve accesstoqualitymentalhealthcounselling andcare services in
the country.The Government has also launched Tele MANAS Mobile Application on the occasion of World
Mental Health Day - October 10, 2024. Tele-MANAS Mobile Application is a comprehensive
mobile platform that has been developed to provide support for mental health issues ranging
from well-beingtomental disorders.
Tele-MANAS Mobile Application has been expanded to include 10 additional regional
languages — Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Odia,
andPunjabi—along with the previously availablelanguages,English andHindi.
Tele-MANAS Mobile Application also assists visually challenged persons by making its mental
health services accessible through a specially designed, user-friendly digital interface and a toll-
free phone line that doesnot require screen use.
As on 27.11.2025, 36States/ UTs have set up 53 Tele MANAS Cells.Tele-MANAS services are
available in 20 languages based on language opted by States. More than 29.82 lakh calls have
been handled on the helpline number since inception. Total number of calls handled through the
Tele-MANAS platform during the current yearis12,33,399.
The number of users who have availed mental health services through the Tele-MANAS
platform since itsinception for Chhattisgarh andBihar,year-wise isasunder:
Sr.No. State FY2022-23 FY2023-24 FY2024-25 FY2025-26
1. Bihar 1741 9609 7965 12509
2. Chhattisgarh 240 8166 19552 15352
The Government has also launched the video consultation facility under Tele-MANAS, as
anotherupgrade tothe already existing audiocallingfacility.
The Government has established a dedicated Tele-MANAS Cell at the Armed Forces Medical
College (AFMC), Pune to extend tele-mental health assistance and support to all Armed Forces
service personnel and their dependents, further enhancing the mental health care services
availabletothem.
****