-

 Theme 4 - Adult social work in Digit media.

Topic: Mental Health Support

In the time when we are living in a technology driven world, access to mental health support have become quite handy. Digital media provides multiple benefits to people who are suffering with mental health issues. The foremost benefit is quick and instant accessibility to mental health support irrespective of patient’s location. Digital environment allows patient to maintain their privacy and anonymity which in turn reduces the taboo attached to mental health issue to a great extent. People can connect with others and speak about their experiences without the fear of being judged. Now a days many blogs, podcasts, videos, journals, articles by experts are readily available on social media offering wide variety of content to cater diverse needs. People can join different community groups, online forums to seek peer support, interact with like minded people and to read about others experiencing similar issue and what they do to overcome those challenges. People can also take help from various mindfulness apps, virtual therapy sessions like meditation, relaxation techniques etc. teleconsultations by psychologists, webinars addressing complex mental health problems, to become more aware and understand different coping strategies. Digital media helps in reaching vulnerable populations and address their concerns more quickly and efficiently.

Examples

Tele MANAS: Revolutionizing Mental Health Care in India

The government of India has launched an initiative called National Tele Mental Health Program (Tele MANAS - Mental Health and Normalcy Augmentation System) on 10th Oct 2022, to improves access to mental health care. The program includes a toll-free helpline and a mobile app. The app provides help and information on self-care, stress, anxiety, and emotional struggle. Tele Manas helpline is available 24/7 at no cost in 20 Indian languages. As of 7 February, 2025, the helpline has handled over 1.81 million calls.. Mental health services have been added in the package of services under Comprehensive Primary Health Care.

 

‘BMC-Mpower 1on1’ helpline

 

To address issues related to mental health, the Government of Maharashtra and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) launched a 24*7 toll-free helpline called ‘BMC-Mpower includes support from psychiatrists and clinical psychologists.

 

Act Now

 

‘Act Now’ is a mental health initiative launched by the Times Network, the broadcast network. It is special campaign film that aims to spread awareness about mental health issues, sensitize people to normalize conversation around the issue and be responsive to the mental health needs of the people.

 

Mann Mela

 Mann Mela is India’s first digital museum aimed at addressing mental health issues faced by the youth of India, an initiative by Sangath, a non-governmental organization. Mann Mela makes use of art and technology to exhibit first person stories of mental trauma, breaking stigma and recovery. Personal stories act as one of the powerful tools to link with people facing similar kind of mental health issues and thus aid in their recovery.

Systematic Medical Appraisal, Referral and Treatment (SMART)

 SMART is a pilot initiative by the George Institute for Global Health. Under this pilot initiative, digital technology was applied for the purpose of screening, management, referral, and treatment of mental health issues such as depression, stress, and suicidal risk. Under the project, technology enabled electronic decision support system (EDSS) was used to facilitate delivery of mental health services by primary healthcare workers.

 

POD Adventures

POD Adventures is a lay counsellor-guided problem-solving intervention, which is delivered through a smartphone app in secondary schools in India. “POD Adventures is a smartphone based-game that teaches problem-solving skills through interactive animated stories, skill-based mini-games, and quizzes. Personalized action plans are created by the user to help apply problem-solving skills to real-life problems and situations with support and encouragement from an in-game guide. The POD adventures app allows students to explore issues affecting their mental health on their own.

 

Digital Initiatives by Startups

ePsyclinic

ePsyclinic offers curated specialized digital counselling sessions including 24*7 free online chat support for women, frontline health workers, senior citizens and working professionals. In 2017, ePsyclinic team launched an app ‘IWill’ which comprises more than 45 in-house counsellors and therapists.

YourDOST

YourDOST is a Bengaluru based online counselling platform launched in the year 2014 that connects people to counsellors & psychologists for personal, professional and academic guidance. It helps people in coping relationship issues, work stress and enhance self-image.

Wysa

Wysa is a Bengaluru based startup launched in the year 2015. It is essentially an artificial intelligence based chatbot to address issues related to mental health. It is a conversational agent that measures the user’s emotions. It applies evidence-based cognitive and behavioral techniques and uses micro-actions to help the user feel better. ORCHA, the world’s leading health app evaluation and adviser organization, chose Wysa as one of the best apps for dealing with COVID-19 related stress and anxiety.

 

While digital media environment has opened a platform for wider population to manage various challenges associated with mental health, at the same time it is also imperative to understand and take help of these tools carefully and ensure that these tools do not replace professional care and face-to-face interactions with experts handling mental health issues.

References

·        ICT_India_Working_Paper_60.pdf

·        Steps Taken to Strengthen Mental Healthcare Services | स्वास्थ्य एवं परिवार कल्याण मंत्रालय | भारत सरकार

·        Press Note Details: Press Information Bureau

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Bluelight-online forum for those with substance abuse / addiction

-
Image
  Introduction to Bluelight Bluelight ( bluelight.org ) is a long-standing online harm reduction forum founded in 1997, designed as a peer-to-peer platform for open, non-judgmental discussions about substance use, addiction, and recovery. Unlike abstinence-focused programs, Bluelight emphasizes harm reduction —a pragmatic approach that prioritizes minimizing the risks of drug use rather than enforcing sobriety. The platform hosts threads on topics like safer drug use practices, overdose prevention, mental health support, and recovery strategies, moderated by volunteers to ensure factual accuracy and safety. Analysis of Client Work Methods in Bluelight's Digital Environment Peer Support Networks Users share personal experiences, offer emotional support, and exchange practical advice (e.g., managing withdrawal, naloxone use). This aligns with social support theory , which highlights the role of community in fostering resilience and reducing isolation. Example : A user struggling wit...
Read more

BLOG POST 2 – How Social Media Affects Work: My Thoughts

-
  In this blog, I want to talk about how social media affects work, especially in social services. It’s not just for fun anymore—it’s also a tool we can use to communicate and work together better. 👩🏽‍🏫 How I See Social Media in My Future Job As a student in Social Services and Early Childhood Education, I think social media will help me in many ways at work: Connecting with clients : I can share important information, event updates, and helpful resources. Working with coworkers : We can easily stay in touch and share ideas, even if we are in different places. Learning and growing : Following social work groups and pages will help me stay updated with new ideas and tips. Sharing success stories : I can use social media to show the good work we’re doing and inspire others. 💬 How Social Media Changes Communication at Work Social media has changed how we communicate at work: It helps us connect faster with messages and posts. We can share important updates...
Read more

Case Study : JMC College International (Sri Lanka)

-
Image
Organizational background   JMC Jayasekera Management Centre was launched in 1972 with the sole and whole objective of reaching and maintaining the highest levels in the professional education sector. Since that point of time, during the past five decades they have made giant strides and reached milestones surpassing even their expectations so much. So that they are now recognized as a most leading educational Institution producing towering performance results in Sri Lanka. Digital Tools Usage 👉Office Work Tools Case Management System : A secure cloud-based platform where staff document client interactions, track progress, and store confidential information. This has replaced paper filing systems, allowing for better data analysis and reporting. Microsoft 365 Suite : Used for document creation, collaborative work, and information sharing through SharePoint. Scheduling Software : For appointment management with clients and tracking staff availability. 👉Communication Tools...
Read more