The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has launched a24/7 toll-free helpline ‘Kiran’(1800-599-0019)to provide support to people facing anxiety, stress, depression, suicidal thoughts and other mental health concerns.
The Helpline will provide callers “support for early screening, first-aid psychological support, distress management, mental well-being, preventing deviant behaviours, psychological crisis management etc
The helpline will offer services in 13 languages.
With 660 volunteers clinical/rehabilitation psychologists and 668 volunteer psychiatrists, the helpline will be run from 25 centres by 75 experts who canhandle 300 callers per hour.
The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment:
- The Ministry is responsible for welfare, social justice, and empowerment of disadvantaged and marginalized sections of society, including scheduled castes, Other Backward Classes, the disabled, the elderly, and the victims of drug abuse.
- Minister: Thaawar Chand Gehlot
- Minister of State: Krishan Pal Gurjar, Ramdas Athawale, Rattan Lal Kataria