The Andhra Pradesh government has begun recruiting specialized staff for a new Tele-MANAS center in Tirupati to expand mental health accessibility across the Rayalaseema region.
- Recruitment of 40 specialists, including psychiatrists and counselors, is underway for the Tirupati center.
- Tele-MANAS is a national initiative operated by NIMHANS, Bengaluru, providing 24/7 support via helpline 14416.
- Call volumes have surged from 523 in 2022 to over 31,000 in 2026, highlighting a growing demand for mental health services.
The Government of Andhra Pradesh has officially commenced the recruitment process for the Tele-MANAS (Tele Mental Health Assistance and Networking Across States) centre in Tirupati. According to the Department of Health, Medical and Family Welfare, the government has sanctioned a total of 40 positions to ensure the facility is fully operational. To date, 16 employees have been onboarded, with a psychiatrist and a counselor already providing critical services at the center.
The expansion into Tirupati is a strategic move to ensure that the Rayalaseema region receives dedicated mental health support. Previously, the state operated two approved centers in Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam. By establishing this third hub, the government aims to decentralize psychiatric care and reduce the geographical barriers preventing citizens from seeking help.
Why This Matters
BozokMedia analysis shows that the rapid escalation in call volumes—from a few hundred in 2022 to tens of thousands in 2026—indicates a significant shift in public perception regarding mental health. The spike during examination periods suggests that academic pressure is a primary driver of psychological distress among the youth, necessitating specialized intervention strategies in educational hubs like Tirupati.
"The transition from traditional clinical visits to tele-psychiatry is bridging the gap between rural distress and urban expertise, potentially saving thousands of lives through timely intervention."
The data provided by D.D. Syamala, State Nodal Officer for Non-Communicable Diseases, reveals a worrying trend: most callers are struggling with relationship issues, financial instability, and exam-related stress. To combat this, health officials have intensified awareness campaigns, particularly around World Suicide Prevention Day, conducting rallies and educational seminars at institutions such as the Y.V. Rao Siddhartha College of Education.
The Tele-MANAS framework operates as a hub-and-spoke model. While NIMHANS in Bengaluru provides the national oversight and technical framework, the actual calls are routed to state-level centers to ensure linguistic and cultural relevance in the counseling provided.
| Year | Number of Calls Received | Trend Analysis |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 523 | Initial Launch Phase |
| 2023 | ~18,000 | Rapid Adoption |
| 2024 | 20,000 | Steady Growth |
| 2025 | 17,000 | Stabilization |
| 2026 (YTD) | 31,000 | Exponential Surge |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: How can citizens access the Tele-MANAS services?
Citizens can access 24/7 professional guidance and support by dialing the national helpline number 14416.
Q2: Which regions in Andhra Pradesh are now covered by Tele-MANAS?
With the new Tirupati center, the service now comprehensively covers the Rayalaseema region, in addition to the existing centers in Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam.
