Centre Launches 24x7 Toll-Free Mental Health Helpline 'KIRAN', To Provide Counselling In 13 Languages

The Government on Monday (7 September) launched a 24x7 toll-free mental rehabilitation helpline for providing psychological support to the people in need, reports Hindustan Times.

An initiative of the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, the Minister Thaawarchand Gehlot launched the helpline '1800-599-0019' christened 'KIRAN' which is functional in thirteen languages, namely, Hindi, Assamese, Tamil, Marathi, Odia, Telugu, Malayalam, Gujarati, Punjabi, Kannada, Bengali, Urdu and English.

The initiative is backed by a total of 660 clinical and rehabilitation psychologists, and 668 psychiatrists who can be reached free-of-cost by dialling the aforementioned toll-free number from any mobile phone landline of any telecom network, from any part of India.

The initiative has been launched to enable early screening and provide first aid, psychological support, distress management, mental wellbeing, promoting positive behaviour and psychological crisis management.

Underscoring that he hoped that the initiative will be very useful to families of those with mental illness, Minister Gehlot shared that the helpline will function as a lifeline to provide advice, counselling and reference in 13 languages to individuals, families, NGOs, parent associations, professional associations, rehabilitation institutes, hospitals or anyone in need of support across the country.