Latest news with #NIMHANS
News18
11 hours ago
- Health
- News18
'You Are Not Alone': Govt Boosts Mental Health Helpline Tele-MANAS for Air Crash Victims
Last Updated: According to the latest posters designed to spread awareness, 'Tragic events can affect our minds deeply – even if we are not directly involved.' 'You are not alone. Help is just a call away," reads the new poster the central government has floated to support the mental health of people directly or indirectly impacted by the Air India plane crash tragedy. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is planning to intensify its mental health campaign through the Tele-MANAS helpline, 14416. The aim is to offer support to families of air crash victims as well as healthcare workers involved in the aftermath. A mild uptick of around 5 per cent in incoming calls has already been observed compared to the usual volume. Tele-MANAS is a comprehensive mental health care service available for Indians under the National Tele-Mental Health Programme of India. The public can access this helpline by dialling a toll-free number. Callers are attended to by trained counsellors and psychiatrists. 'There is roughly a jump of 5 per cent in the number of incoming calls," said Dinakaran Damodharan, assistant professor of psychiatry at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, Bengaluru (NIMHANS). 'There has only been a slight increase in the number of calls… While this is not a huge surge, the reason could be that individuals and healthcare professionals are not fully aware of the help they can get from this helpline." On average, he said, the helpline receives around 40 calls every day, but now, there is a mild surge. When asked about the top queries of callers, Damodharan said the details of conversations are confidential and not recorded. 'Hence, it's just between the caller and the consultant." It says it's completely normal to feel 'sadness or helplessness", 'anxiety or fear", 'anger or frustration". In a subhead on 'What can you do?", it suggests: 'Talk about your feelings with someone you trust." It also advises to 'Limit how much news you watch" and 'Take deep breaths, stay grounded." Damodharan from NIMHANS advised that the helpline can be used by healthcare professionals as well as forensic experts who may be experiencing burnout, in addition to the general public and relatives of the deceased. Plan to give social media boost The government is planning a social media push to boost awareness about the free mental health support available through this helpline. While the campaign was first launched in Gujarat on the same day as the plane crash (12 June), it was gradually rolled out across India. However, the government has now decided to promote the campaign through its social media channels, widely. 'The campaign was already there, but considering the emotional toll, the team is planning to expand the awareness drive. While some states have their own Tele-MANAS profiles on social media platforms like X, Facebook, and Instagram, others will use the state health department handles," said a senior official privy to the development. 'We are releasing awareness messages in Gujarati, Hindi, and English so far, but languages may be added based on inputs received by the team and the geography of incoming callers. To attend to calls related to the plane crash tragedy, the languages available at the helpline number are Gujarati, Hindi, and English."
The Hindu
20 hours ago
- Health
- The Hindu
Bengaluru's NIMHANS to celebrate International Yoga Day with focus on mental health of older adults
The Department of Integrative Medicine at NIMHANS, Bengaluru, is all set to celebrate the 11th International Day of Yoga (IDY) on June 21, with a number of programmes dedicated to promoting mental wellbeing through yoga. This year's celebration at NIMHANS features a unique initiative titled 'Yoga Samavesha – A Yoga-based Mental Health Initiative for Older Adults,' supported by the Central Council for Research in Yoga and Naturopathy (CCRYN), Union Ministry of AYUSH. This special programme is aimed at bringing attention to the mental health needs of senior citizens and older adults, particularly those residing in old age homes across Bengaluru, said Hemant Bhargav, Associate Professor of Integrative Medicine, who is leading the initiative. The day's events will include yoga sangama, mass yoga session for staff and students at Gymkhana grounds, yoga for patients at Ashwini Hall, and yoga samavesha - a dedicated yoga practice session for older adults at the Gymkhana community hall. Senior citizens from various old age homes across the city will gather for a specially designed yoga session tailored to support their mental health, emotional balance, and physical vitality. This inclusive session will be led by yoga therapists from the Department of Integrative Medicine, and is part of a broader outreach effort to make yoga more accessible to the underprivileged and vulnerable segments of the society, Dr. Bhargav said. A special panel discussion will follow the yoga samavesha session, where leading experts from NIMHANS will share insights on how yoga and lifestyle practices can support mental wellbeing in older adults, he said.
The Hindu
21 hours ago
- Health
- The Hindu
NIMHANS trains anganwadi workers in Ramanagara district under ‘Suraksha Project'
The Suraksha Project, a comprehensive suicide prevention initiative implemented by NIMHANS in collaboration with the State government and Himalaya Wellness Company, expanded its community training activities in Ramanagara district. It aims at building a robust community network of trained gatekeepers, including police personnel, teachers, anganwadi workers, and other frontline stakeholders. Through structured training, the project empowers them to recognise early warning signs, offer empathetic first-line support, and connect vulnerable individuals with appropriate mental health services. As part of this ongoing programme, gatekeeper training for anganwadi teachers and workers began on June 18 at the district headquarters in Ramanagara. This follows the successful training of over 700 police personnel in the district last month, equipping them with the skills to identify and support individuals at risk of self-harm, said Anish V. Cherian, additional professor, Department of Psychiatric Social Work at NIMHANS. Underscoring the vital role of anganwadi workers in community wellbeing, Mr. Cherian said these workers are among the most trusted and well-connected members of the community. 'Their close relationship with families positions them to identify signs of distress and provide timely help,' he said. Shivakumar, assistant secretary, Ramanagara Zilla Panchayat emphasised the critical need for community-led suicide prevention efforts. 'The loss of life to suicide is a loss to the entire community, not just an individual or family. It is vital that we explore every possible measure to prevent such tragedies,' he added.
India Today
3 days ago
- Science
- India Today
Shimla woman clears toughest exams without coaching, bags Rank 1 in IIT entrances
In an age where coaching classes are seen as essential for academic success, Damini Singh Brar from Himachal Pradesh has broken the mould, and how. Without signing up for a single coaching class, she has cleared some of India's most competitive exams, including the UGC-NET, NIMHANS, and not one but two IIT PhD 26-year-old from Sanjauli near Shimla is now all set to join IIT Delhi's PhD programme in Psychology, having topped both its written exam and interview round. Not only that, she also bagged All India Rank 1 in the PhD entrance for IIT also cleared the NIMHANS Bengaluru written exam for a PhD and got shortlisted for the interview. She passed UGC-NET Psychology in her first attempt in December LSR TO TISS TO IIT Damini started her academic journey at Lady Shri Ram College (LSR), Delhi University, studying English Honours. She then pursued Applied Psychology from TISS Mumbai, a top social sciences school journey was equally strong -- she was the Class 12 board topper in Shimla COACHING, JUST CONSISTENCYWhat makes Damini's story even more inspiring is her method. As per reports, she got no coaching, and no private tuitions. She prepared for the exams on her own, driven by passion and a structured study parents come from humble backgrounds -- her father is a sanitation inspector and her mother is a homemaker. Yet, with discipline and quiet resilience, Damini has reached India's most elite academic spaces.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Nair hospital's neuro-immunology OPD in Mumbai becomes haven for hundreds of patients
Mumbai: Nair Hospital's neuro-immunology outpatient department (OPD) has become a long-term haven for hundreds of patients. Sparked by improved diagnosis of neuro-immune disorders after the Covid-19 pandemic, the OPD celebrated its third anniversary this month. It is the only dedicated OPD in civic hospitals for such conditions, with 906 patient consultations since its launch, including 186 new diagnoses. The rest are follow-ups, as most conditions require lifelong care. For 29-year-old Mohammed Naaz Quershi, symptoms began in 2023 with a drooping eyelid, progressing to difficulty chewing and hand weakness. "Doctors told me this usually affects older people. I was confused," said the Mazgaon resident. After visiting several hospitals without answers, he was diagnosed at Mumbai Central's Nair Hospital with myasthenia gravis, a rare autoimmune disorder that disrupts nerve-muscle communication. While the public hospital saved him costly specialist visits, he still spends around Rs 10,000 monthly on medication. Quershi is one amongst many who rely on the department for ongoing care. So far, patients have presented with 29 different neuro-immunological conditions, all involving the immune system attacking the body. The most commonly treated include Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein Antibody-Associated Disease (MOGAD), myasthenia gravis, and IgG4-related pachymeningitis. MOGAD accounts for 139 cases — 35 new cases — involving immune attacks on the spinal cord that can cause partial vision loss, seizures, and muscle weakness. Myasthenia gravis was diagnosed in 119 patients — 26 new cases — while 76 were treated for IgG4-related pachymeningitis, which causes chronic headaches, seizures, and neurological deficits. "These diseases were once considered mysterious because of a lack of diagnostic tools," said Dr Rahul Chakor, HOD at Nair Hospital's neurology department. Another neurologist from the department said, "They are relatively rare, so diagnostic tests and medications are not prioritised in public healthcare. Most tests aren't available in BMC hospitals, so we refer patients to private labs offering discounted rates. " Dr Chakor added that even as challenges persist, Nair Hospital has retained the majority of its patients. Only 20 out of 186 new patients discontinued follow-ups. "Most require lifelong treatment, but some achieve remission in two years," he said. Former KEM assistant professor Dr Parthvi Ravat's study found that PET scans can reveal brain inflammation from autoimmune causes, even when MRI and antibody tests fail. Dr Sangeeta Ravat, dean of KEM Hospital, added, "But patients often go undiagnosed for years and visit multiple hospitals. We send samples to NIMHANS in Bengaluru when tests are not available locally. NIMHANS offers testing at heavily subsidised rates. "
