Maharashtra Mental Health helpline ‘BMC-Mpower 1on1’ receives 25,000+ calls within just 18 days since launch
Mumbai: ‘BMC-Mpower 1on1’, the 24×7 helpline launched by Mpower, a pioneer in Indian mental healthcare in an exclusive partnership with the Government of Maharashtra and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), has received more than 25,000 calls within just 18 days since its launch. Honourable Chief Minister of Maharashtra Mr. Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday spoke about the helpline and appealed to citizens of Maharashtra to reach out and seek help for any mental health concerns during the lockdown.
Recognizing the importance of mental health, Hon. CM Mr. Uddhav Thackeray said that staying at home for long time causes some discomfort and restlessness. We do not know what to do, whom to speak to because everyone is at home. Mind gets upset, feelings of anxiety, loneliness increase. We have no idea what to do, when we will feel like a failure. To tackle this, the Government of Maharashtra has provided a helpline number for citizens. This free service has been initiated by Mpower (Mrs Neerja Birla) in collaboration with Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. The toll-free number is 1800-120-820050.
Elated with the response the helpline has been receiving, Mrs. Neerja Birla, Founder and Chairperson, Mpower, said, “The world is battling a massive mental health crisis as a result of the global pandemic that has upset our daily lives. It is a must to deal with any mental health concerns that we face and seek the right counsel immediately. Just by speaking to a mental health professional can certainly provide a balanced understanding and coping mechanisms, avoiding any moral judgement. We are really grateful to the Government of Maharashtra and the BMC for their complete support to this critical initiative and we are proud that more than 25,000 people have reached out to us to open up about their feelings. We urge more and more people to access and avail this service in the coming days.”
Mpower has been at the forefront of tackling mental health issues across the country. Since March 2020, Mpower seen a rise in new cases of mental health concerns like anxiety, stress, depression, paranoia during the Covid-19 pandemic. To address these concerns, Mpower has been providing counselling and therapies virtually through telephonic conversations, online chats, video calling to be able to help them through this phase. Additionally, Mpower has also been sharing health advisories and tips to parents, young professionals and families to better handle everyday situations.