Quick take: Tele-MANAS is the Government of India’s national tele-mental-health service. You can call 14416 or 1800-89-14416 for mental-health support. The service is designed to operate 24×7 across India, with trained counsellors providing initial support and escalating calls to mental-health professionals or in-person services when required. (Directorate General of Health Services)
This is a how-to-use-the-helpline guide — not a diagnosis guide and not a replacement for emergency medical care.
What happens when you call 14416?
You don't need to know the medical name for what you're experiencing before calling.
The official Tele-MANAS operating model uses an initial IVRS/call flow, followed by a trained counsellor. Depending on the situation, the call can be escalated to a mental-health specialist. Specialist support can include audio/video consultation, and callers who need in-person care can be linked to appropriate services. (Ministry of Health and Family Welfare)
Think of it as:
Call → counsellor → assessment/support → specialist if needed → local/in-person referral when required
The two numbers to save
14416
The short code for Tele-MANAS.
1800-89-14416
The toll-free Tele-MANAS number listed by the Directorate General of Health Services. (Directorate General of Health Services)
Save both in your phone as:
Tele-MANAS — 14416
When should you call?
You don't have to wait until a problem becomes a diagnosed mental illness.
You can call when you're dealing with things such as:
- persistent stress or anxiety
- low mood or emotional distress
- difficulty coping with a major life event
- sleep-related concerns
- relationship or family distress
- work or academic stress
- concerns about a family member
- thoughts of self-harm or suicide
- questions about getting professional mental-health care
Tele-MANAS is intended to provide access to mental-health support and connect people with appropriate care. (Directorate General of Health Services)
You don't need a perfect explanation
A common reason people don't call is:
“I don't know what to tell the counsellor.”
You can start with something as simple as:
“I'm having a difficult time mentally and I need someone to talk to.”
Then explain what has been happening in your own words.
You don't need to diagnose yourself.
What to keep ready before calling
You generally don't need a folder of medical documents just to seek help.
If relevant, have these nearby:
- your phone
- basic information about any medicines you're taking
- previous mental-health treatment details
- names of doctors you currently see
- information about someone you trust who can help you
But don't delay the call because you don't have these documents.
What happens after the first conversation?
The official operating guidelines describe different levels of care.
Level 1 — Counsellor
A trained counsellor handles the initial call and provides support within their scope. Calls are also triaged according to the level of care required. (Ministry of Health and Family Welfare)
Level 2 — Mental-health professional
If specialist care is needed, the case can be escalated to professionals such as a:
- psychiatrist
- clinical psychologist
- psychologist
- psychiatric social worker
- psychiatric nurse
Audio and video options are part of the specialist level. (Ministry of Health and Family Welfare)
Level 3 — In-person care
If someone needs urgent in-person intervention or a more complex assessment, Tele-MANAS can facilitate referral to appropriate services, including district-level and higher-level mental-health facilities. (Ministry of Health and Family Welfare)
Is Tele-MANAS only for people with a psychiatric diagnosis?
No.
The programme is designed to provide accessible mental-health support and help people reach an appropriate level of care. You can describe your symptoms, worries or situation without already having a diagnosis. (Directorate General of Health Services)
What languages are available?
Tele-MANAS has been designed as a nationwide service with multilingual support. A Ministry of Health report recorded counsellors engaging with callers in more than 20 languages as of December 2024. (Ministry of Health and Family Welfare)
If communicating in English is difficult, ask for the language you are comfortable speaking.
Can a family member call?
If you're worried about someone else, you can seek guidance about how to respond and where to get appropriate help.
For example:
“My father has become withdrawn and isn't sleeping. I don't know how to approach him.”
Explain the situation honestly and ask what the next step should be.
What about teenagers and students?
Mental-health support can be relevant to students dealing with:
- exam pressure
- bullying
- loneliness
- family conflict
- academic stress
- sleep problems
- anxiety or persistent sadness
Parents, guardians and students can use the service to understand what support may be appropriate.
Tele-MANAS is not an emergency ambulance
This distinction matters.
If someone is in immediate physical danger, has attempted suicide, has a serious injury, has taken an overdose, or requires urgent medical intervention, do not wait for a routine counselling conversation.
Call 112 or go to the nearest emergency department.
Tele-MANAS can be part of the mental-health care pathway, but an immediate medical emergency needs emergency services.
Don't let someone else control the call
For privacy and safety:
- Prefer your own phone.
- Find a reasonably private place to talk.
- Don't share OTPs with anyone claiming to “activate” Tele-MANAS.
- Don't pay a person claiming they can “unlock” a government counselling service.
- Use the official 14416 / 1800-89-14416 numbers.
What if the call doesn't connect?
Try the other official number:
14416 → 1800-89-14416
If there is a temporary technical problem, try again rather than switching to an unknown number found through a social-media post.
For ongoing or urgent problems, you can also approach a government health facility and ask about District Mental Health Programme / mental-health services. Tele-MANAS is designed to link with these existing services. (Ministry of Health and Family Welfare)
Tele-MANAS vs eSanjeevani vs ABHA
ServiceMain purposeTele-MANAS — 14416Mental-health support and referraleSanjeevaniGeneral telemedicine/doctor consultationABHADigital health identity and health-record ecosystemAyushman Arogya MandirPrimary healthcare, including basic mental-health services
Ayushman Arogya Mandirs are also designed to provide screening and basic management of mental-health conditions, while Tele-MANAS provides a dedicated tele-mental-health pathway. (Ayushman Arogya Mandir)
One-minute family safety plan
Save 14416 in the phones of:
- parents
- grandparents
- college students
- people living alone
- caregivers
Tell them:
“If you're struggling mentally, you don't have to figure out the right service first. Call 14416.”
If you're calling for someone else
Before calling, write down:
What changed → when it started → what you're seeing → whether there is immediate danger → what help has already been tried.
This gives the counsellor a clearer starting point.
What Tele-MANAS can do — and what it can't
It can
- provide tele-mental-health support
- connect callers with trained counsellors
- escalate to mental-health professionals
- facilitate referrals to appropriate in-person services
- support continuity and follow-up pathways (Ministry of Health and Family Welfare)
It cannot
- replace emergency medical treatment
- guarantee that every problem can be resolved in one call
- replace a physical examination when one is clinically necessary
The number to remember
MENTAL-HEALTH SUPPORT → 14416
Or:
1800-89-14416
Both are official Tele-MANAS access numbers listed by the Government of India. (Directorate General of Health Services)
Be Informed. Be Heard.
Re-check before publishing: the official MoHFW / DGHS Tele-MANAS pages and current helpline information. Government service numbers and operating details can change. (Directorate General of Health Services)