The Tele-MANAS centre, proposed in Tirupati, has begun partial operations as the State government has started recruiting staff for the same.

According to information from the department of Health, Medical and Family Welfare, the government has approved recruitment of 40 employees, including psychiatrists, counsellors, and others. So far, 16 have been recruited. A counsellor and a psychiatrist are working at the Tirupati centre at present.

While Tele-MANAS is a national helpline, operated by the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru, calls are routed to call centres within each State. In Andhra Pradesh, the Union government had approved two centres, one in Vijayawada and another in Visakhapatnam, both of which are running. With the third one being established in Tirupati, Rayalaseema region, too, will now be covered.

The response to the helpline appears to be growing steadily. There were 523 calls in 2022, around 18,000 calls in 2023, 20,000 in 2024, 17,000 in 2025 and 31,000 calls so far in 2026. The number of calls increase during exam time. Most of them seek help for relationship problems, financial stress and exam stress, said D.D. Syamala, State Nodal Officer, Non-Communicable Diseases.

As part of activities planned for World Suicide Prevention Day, awareness programmes were organised at a few colleges in Vijayawada and rallies were taken out in Ibrahimpatnam. The district health officials interacted with students of Y.V. Rao Siddhartha College Of Education on myths and facts related to suicide prevention and Tele-MANAS services.

Counsellors are available 24/7 throughout the year via the helpline 14416 to provide support and guidance.