PUNE: The Karve Institute of Social Service (KISS) has launched a helpline in Pune district to provide mental health counselling during the coronavirus lockdown.
Around five counsellors are on board, consisting of psychiatrists, psychologists, social psychologist and physicians who will be available round the clock.
Professor Chetan Diwan, the institute’s centre for mental health and disabilities chairperson, stated that many are claustrophobic, a few feel anxious when isolated, some have a hectic social life and suddenly have no human interaction now - such people generally undergo a lot of mental stress.
“Apart from these, there are other mental health issues that need attention at this point. This is why we have started the helpline for people of Pune district. It can be extended for people residing outside the district as well,” said Diwan.
Diwan has also been heading the state-run helpline and said they receive distress calls from citizens about anxiety, panic attack, health issues, anger problems etc.
“On Friday, I received around 140 calls from Maharashtra. The calls are mostly about anxiety and panic attacks - one of the army personnel who is serving at the Arunachal Pradesh border - his wife lives in Pune suffered a panic attack, one of the senior staff member of a city-based university stated that he can’t move and isn’t feeling good because his physiotherapy sessions have been halted for some time. There are calls of anger management issues from alcoholic/addict people,” he said.
All the volunteers have been sensitised and instructed that no calls should be declined.
“As people who are in dire need of counselling will approach us. So the volunteers have been told that they shouldn’t ignore any calls or say they’ll call back later. In fact, we have also provided time of availability of every counsellor for their convenience,” said Diwan.
MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT HELPLINE NUMBERS: