Announcing the launch in a tweet on Friday night,Minister for IT and Industries, KT Rama Rao said, "#TelanganaCommissionerate of Health & Family Welfare launched helpline108 to address Mental Health & Psychosocial issues during#Lockdown Citizens emotional well-being is one of our toppriorities. 108 Helpline will be working 24/7."
According to Telangana Health and Family WelfareDepartment, as many as 53 people working under an NationalHealth Mission (NHM) programme have been trained at the IndianInstitute of Health and Family Welfare here on COVID-19 mentalhealth and counselling aspects for three days.
The call centre would have two experienced psychiatriststo provide necessary support to the counsellors and alsoaddress serious psychological behavioural cases, it said.
Isolation, social distancing, closure of schools,workplaces and entertainment during the lockdown period arechallenges that may affect the people and it is natural tofeel stress, anxiety, fear and loneliness at that time, thedepartment said.
The WHO has recommended that governments establishpossible online counselling support services for effectivehandling of the mental health aspects of people during thecoronavirus episode. As suggested by the Centre, the state government hasexplored existing 108 helpline to be utilised for mentalhealth counselling to support the needy. GDKROH ROH