We raise awareness

Mental health problems and illnesses are as important as any physical health challenges
Anyone can be presented with mental health challenges
With proper treatment or control, people experiencing mental health issues can be productive members of society
Since mental health is no different from physical health and mental problems and illnesses are treatable, anyone suffering from a mental illness should be treated with dignity

We will improve access

Diagnosis and treatment
Knowledge about mental health issues, symptoms and treatments
Support groups

We will advocate

Build support for applying necessary solutions to mental health challenges in India
Bring to bear best practices to address mental health issues
Raise awareness and fight stigma
Create partnerships through which the impact of efforts can be multiplied

In pursuit of the above areas, the Foundation has undertaken a number of activities. These are all ongoing activities and not one-off campaigns. We believe that persistent, long-term efforts will have a more significant impact than short bursts of activity.

Mental Health Helpline

The Foundation established a mental health helpline in Mumbai, India, in August 2009. There are two lines of contact.

The first line is trained clinical psychologists and psychiatrists. The second line is experienced psychiatrists.
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The Helpline operates round the clock and is run as a professional unit with counsellors being paid market rates. The counsellors document all calls on software that helps them retrieve previous call history quickly and allows for demographic studies.

The Helpline has put in place arrangements with public services such as the police, ambulance services and hospitals. The Helpline has also tied up with professional bodies. In October 2011, the Foundation created a new hub for the helpline in Delhi, India. This was with help from Emmanuel Hospital Association, St Stephen is hospital and Mar Thoma Church. Later in August 2013 another hub at Surat (Gujarat) was added. In 2015 our hub extended to Ghandhinagar ( Gujarat). This is with help of Gujarat Police (Suraksha Setu) and philanthropists. In just over four years, the Helpline has helped many people, which includes the entire spectrum from people seeking information, to people at risk of harm who our counsellors work with.

The Helpline till date has answered Three Lakh Eighty Thousand (0.38 million) calls averaging now at about 6000 per month. The Helpline also answers 3000 plus mails a month.

Awareness Campaigns

The Foundation has collaborated with schools and colleges to raise awareness and remove stigma. In 2011, when the city of Mumbai suffered a spate of student suicides, the Foundation Helpline was declared by the Mumbai Municipal Corporation as the official helpline that students could call.

Improvement of Mental Health Services in India

Worked with the Government of Maharashtra to develop a plan to improve services provided in mental health institutions within the state
Formed with the Director General of Shipping an agreement to be the official mental health helpline for Indian seamen around the globe and their families
Brought together a number of representatives of other NGOs working in the area of mental health to compare notes and share best practices
Created seminars involving academics, government officials and psychiatric professionals to discuss key issues in mental health in India
Developed a relationship with the Mental Health Commission of Canada to learn from the Canadian experience