On World Mental Health Day, experts stress expanding mental health services through tele-psychiatry during catastrophes and emergencies.
Chandigarh,
To mark World Mental Health Day 2025, the Department of Psychiatry at PGIMER, Chandigarh, organized a press conference on the theme “Access to Services – Mental Health in Catastrophes and Emergencies.” The event aimed to raise awareness about the growing need for accessible mental health care during crises.
The session was led by Prof. Subho Chakrabarti, Principal Investigator of the Regional Coordinating Center for Tele-MANAS, along with Dr. Rahul Chakravarty, Dr. Raj Laxmi, Mr. Abhishek Verma, and Ms. Sonu Aggarwal. The team emphasized that mental health care must remain available even during disasters and emergencies.
Prof. Chakrabarti highlighted the importance of scaling mental health access and shared PGIMER’s initiatives such as Tele-MANAS and Tele-Psychiatry Services. He pointed out that a significant number of individuals affected by catastrophes suffer from serious mental health conditions, which makes access to services essential.
The experts explained how tele-psychiatry has transformed mental health delivery, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. PGIMER now provides specialized therapies remotely, including Individual Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (iCST) for dementia and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) for obsessive-compulsive disorder.
They underscored that Tele-MANAS, launched under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), bridges the service gap by offering Psychological First Aid (PFA) remotely when physical access is disrupted. The service operates through the toll-free helpline 14416, using a structured model for crisis intervention and suicide prevention, called “Manasvita.”
Counsellors receive Gatekeeper’s Training to assess risk and provide immediate care. Tier-1 counsellors can escalate cases to Tier-2 specialists such as psychiatrists or clinical psychologists and refer patients to nearby District Mental Health Programme (DMHP) centers for follow-up support.
Dr. Rahul Chakravarty spoke about suicide prevention through Tele-MANAS, stating that suicide affects all social groups and requires collective societal responsibility.
In his closing remarks, Prof. Chakrabarti noted that tele-psychiatry has reduced waiting times, improved patient engagement, and enhanced treatment compliance. By removing travel barriers, PGIMER’s tele-health initiatives have become a dependable bridge between patients and mental health professionals.
