Feeling low or depressed? Here are a few Kerala platforms to help you handle the phase

Keralites are familiar with the name DISHA (Direct Intervention System For Health Awareness) which is a telemedical helpline undertaken by National Health Mission (NHM) and Department of Health of Kerala). They receive hundreds of calls daily on their toll-free number 1056, where the platform provides daily help, guidance and counselling on mental and physical health issues. Most issues are related to dysfunctional families and severe financial problems. The authorities say some feel relieved after sharing their concerns with a counsellor. The health department and the police state that a lack of proper communication inside our homes is the primary reason that breaks up families.

People share incidents of drug abuse, uninvolved parenting and feeling like giving up on life. The authorities note that these complaints are adequately investigated, and the husband and wife are given counselling. Counselling sessions are scheduled for them every 15 days to track their progress. In case the husband is abusive, then he is asked to submit an undertaking at the police station.

Postpartum depression
The health department reports that postpartum depression causes severe physical and mental repercussions in women. In most cases, no one in the family notices changes in the woman’s mental or physical health. Ignoring the newborn or harming them is often a sign of postpartum depression. It could even drive the new mothers to suicide. The government has launched the Amma Manassu project to focus on new mothers' mental and physical well-being.

“There are trained counsellors and psychiatrists at the ‘Tele–Manassu’ call centre. Special arrangements have been made for the callers to speak with them. There have been countless instances of dissuading people who have confessed to having suicidal tendencies. The state health department runs 306 mental health clinics. Facilities have been arranged at the clinics for those who need help,” says Dr PS Kiran, State Nodal Officer, National Mental Health Program.

DISHA and Tele–Manassu
State government’s DISHA and central government’s Tele–Manassu call centres function for immediate intervention and counselling to prevent suicides. Tele–Manassu has been designed to receive calls from any part of the country. The health department’s DISHA call centre also has facilities to intervene at the district level. People call these call centres saying that they are on the verge of committing suicide due to dysfunctional family relations, domestic abuse, drug abuse and financial loss due to online loans and games.
Another number of DISHA – 0471 2552056
Tele – Manassu – 14416

“We need immediate action, including changes in the policies, to prevent our society from becoming mentally ill. In most cases of suicide, the real reason isn’t revealed. The immediate reason might not be the only reason that has led to suicides. Just like a postmortem is conducted to know the facts, a psychological autopsy should also be conducted. Only this could prevent disasters like multiple suicides. Now, privacy has given way to extreme secrecy. So, when someone gets trapped in a problem, they can't see a haven. Mental health matters from childhood to old age,” says Dr Varghese Punnoose, Principal, Medical College, Kottayam.

Let’s solve
A wife recently tried to drown herself in the lake after she had fought with her husband. Police personnel from the West Police Station in Kottayam saved the woman. The wife got offended when her husband refused to appear on a video call to talk to her relatives. This incident prompted her to take her own life. The police summoned both husband and wife to the station, gave them counselling and solved the issue.