Editorial | Of Mental Health, Tele-MANAS & LANCET

Given the tumultuous and complicated situation of Jammu & Kashmir in addition to various other natural calamities, particularly over the last two decades, the denizens have more often not seen themselves get entangled in a never-ending maze and this situation has taken a serious toll on the mental health of a major chunk of the population. Although the people are much reluctant to come forward with their mental conditions, but it nevertheless has been effecting and consuming a greater lot, particularly the youth as evident from the frequent suicide cases over last few years. Well then sensing the need to bridge the gap to address this imminent issue, the GoI took an initiative under Tele-MANAS, wherein it aimed to counsel the people and souls in need of mental advice. As per a report, the Tele-MANAS has by far received over four thousand calls since launch of the initiative in November 2022 with the authorities expecting to ramp up its efforts to reach out more and more people to address the issue. A study paper ‘Reducing the mental health treatment gap in Kashmir: scaling up to maximise the potential of telepsychiatry’, regarding the mental health conditions in Jammu and Kashmir has made it to global prestigious journal Lancet, wherein it has sought upscaling of tele-psychiatry. The making of the study paper to the global forum has by many seen as a huge achievement by the people in the knowhow of the things for it perhaps is for the first time that any public policy related paper has reached such a prestigious paper. We do hope that the suggestions given by the people which among others include Secretary H&ME Dr. Bhupinder Kumar are taken into due consideration for effectively checking the issue of mental health here.