| Kolkata
Tuesday 1 October, 2002
Now
a mobile helpline for the depressed
Statesman
News Service, Kolkata Sept 30 - Feeling depressed ? Lonely?
Suicidal? Do you hate going to work and cannot cope with pressure?
Well
there is reason to live and a lot to look forward to. From
tomorrow all you have to do is to pick up the phone and dial
98300 27976. This 24 hour mobile phone helpline for the mentally
sick and those at risk is being launched by the National Institute
of Behaviroual Sciences. The crisis intervention network,
one of its kind in the country, will be attended to by professionals
in the field of mental health. "Generally helplines are
attended to by trained volunteers…but in this case mental
patients will receive counseling from psychiatrists and psychologists
seven days a week". Said NIBS Secretary Dr. Kedar Ranjan
Banerjee.
The
team comprises three psychiatrists, two psychologists and
a general physician. "Since it is a mobile helpline,
we can be on the move while we talk to the patients. It will
not bind us to the chair at any time". Dr. Banerjee said.
Callers will never encounter a busy signal or voice mail,
the team promises. According to Dr. Banerjee, this helpline
will help tackle children with neurotic behaviroual patterns,
hyperactivity disorder and other academic problems like dyscalculia
(related to maths) and disgraphia (relating to writing)
"Families
feel helpless, especially at night when there is nobody to
hear them out. Now even at 2 AM a distressed mother can call
us up on the mobile phone. Our first aim will be to calm the
patient and then think of other emergency measures".
Says Dr. Banerjee.
This
helpline is also open to senior citizens.
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