Bangalore: Mpower, a mental health initiative of the Aditya Birla Education Trust, has signed an MOU today with NIMHANS (National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro-Sciences) to support the implementation of Tele-MANAS services across India. As part of the collaboration, Mpower will be responsible for setting up, operating, and managing all day-to-day affairs for the Tele MANAS centres. NIMHANS, on the other hand, will provide Mpower with access to the platform, operating guidelines, and framework needed to operate the centers.
Mpower will leverage its expertise in providing seamless, standardized, and world-class mental health services to beneficiaries of Tele MANAS. This collaboration aims to ensure the Successful on-ground implementation of Tele-MANAS services, as well as the accessibility and availability of trained experts and professional mental health counselling services to those in need.
Speaking to media on the collaboration Dr. Neerja Birla, Founder and Chairperson of Mpower and Aditya Birla Education Trust said “Mpower is proud to partner with NIMHANS to provide support for Tele-MANAS. I strongly believe that public-private partnerships, such as ours, which incorporate standardization, trained manpower, and technological support for government programs, can catalyze and transform systems and service delivery, ultimately achieving the goal of providing quality mental health services to all. We are honoured to help roll out the government’s timely and much-needed Tele-MANAS program.
Dr. Pratima Murthy, Director and Senior Professor of Psychiatry at NIMHANS, remarked “The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated mental health issues among people of all ages, leading NIMHANS to launch the National Tele Mental Health Programme. Our goal is to provide basic support, counselling, and mental health services staffed by professionals, and by collaborating with Mpower, we can leverage their expertise to reach a wider audience, regardless of demographics”. She said.
Mpower boasts a robust team of 140 trained mental health professionals who provide a range of multidisciplinary mental health services, including counselling, psychiatry, speech therapy, occupational therapy, and counselling across various segments and age groups with extensive experience in operating a mental health tele-helpline.Tele-MANAS follows a two-tier model, with Tier 1 consisting of state Tele-MANAS cells that employ trained counsellors and mental health specialists. Tier 2 has specialists available at District Mental Health Programme (DMHP)/Medical College resources for physical consultation and/or e-Sanjeevani for audio-visual consultation. A toll-free, 24/7 helpline number (14416) has been established across the country, allowing callers in need to select their preferred language and receive the necessary assistance. Through this MOU Mpower will support these offerings to ensure access to professional mental health services across the all of India.
