Govt. begins recruiting staff Tele-MANAS centre in Tirupati

The government in Andhra Pradesh has begun recruitment for staff at the proposed Tele-MANAS centre in Tirupati, according to a report from the Health, Medical and Family Welfare department. The centre, part of the national helpline operated by the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) in Bengaluru, aims to provide mental health support through a telephone line.

As of now, 16 out of the approved 40 employees have been recruited, with a counsellor and a psychiatrist already working at the Tirupati location. Tele-MANAS is a response to growing demand, with call volumes nearly doubling between 2022 and 2024, reaching 31,000 calls in 2026, particularly during exam periods. The centre will join two others in Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam, covering the entire Rayalaseema region.

Awareness activities, including workshops and rallies, have been conducted to promote understanding of suicide prevention and the services offered by Tele-MANAS.