The Vandrevala Foundation that works in the area of mental health is in the process of starting a 24x7 mental health helpline in Pune, Delhi and Chennai soon. The foundation had started with a 24x7 mental health helpline in Mumbai which offers telephonic counselling to people for a range of mental health issues from August 2009. Following a sudden spurt in suicides by students in January 2010, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) had given the Foundation’s helpline the status of an official BMC helpline.

In view of the excellent response to this unique venture of mental healthcare helpline in Mumbai and part of the future expansion plans, the Foundation has chosen Pune to be the first city to be added on to the helpline grid which would soon have a Pan-India presence. To achieve the same, it is currently in the process of acquiring a four-digit MTNL/BSNL number as well as an eight-digit private service provider number for seamless and uninterrupted connectivity throughout the country.

To cater to callers from Northern India, a replicated model of Mumbai would be set up in Delhi wherein the Foundation would soon be signing an MoU with a major healthcare service provider to give the same level of mental health care services that the Foundation is currently offering in Mumbai and adjoining areas. It is also in the process of setting up and identical hub at Chennai for southern India where it faces a unique challenge of diversity of languages of the callers.

Recently, the Foundation has been designated by the DG Shipping as the official helpline for the Indian seafarers to contact in case of distress and despair wherever in the world they may be sailing. Their families on shore in India too can avail of the services. The foundation is being approached by many other such organisations wanting similar services.

The helpline is manned by certified clinical psychologists who have been trained to counsel people over the phone. The helpline also has tie-ups with back up services to deal with psychiatric emergencies as well as assist people in various areas of mental healthcare. The helpline follows a three-tier system wherein the call is received by a trained clinical psychologist and then depending upon the severity and complexity of the call, it is escalated to tier II level which is manned by trained psychiatrists. In life threatening cases, wherein the caller may exhibit violent or suicidal tendencies or in acute psychiatric emergencies, the call is escalated further and senior psychiatrists also get involved. The whole operation is backed up by an extremely sophisticated IT communication system where in eight people can simultaneously be in touch with the caller data.

As a natural sequel to crisis intervention through tele-counselling, the Foundation offers a 24X7 crisis face to face counselling service. It is also in the process of setting up support groups at four different locations in the city of Mumbai. These support groups would be both for the patients as well as for the care givers. 

The Vandrevala Foundation identified mental health as an area where it could usefully and practically contribute to society in India. The Foundation would also be involved in major awareness and anti stigma programs soon.