What 14416 handles
- Tele counselling by trained counsellors
- Tele consultation by mental health professionals when required
- Referral to Medical Colleges, DMHP services and speciality institutes
- Calls from family members on someone else's behalf
- Calls from ASHAs and community health volunteers on behalf of someone in their community
Organised as a two-tier system: Tier 1 is the State Tele MANAS cells, Tier 2 is specialists at District Mental Health Programme and Medical College resources.
What to have ready when you call
- Nothing is recorded. Tele MANAS states audio recording is not done; details are documented in the computer system for basic record.
- Expect a call back. Tele MANAS states the helpline is IVRS-based audio calling with a timely auto-call-back approach, and that the caller is first attended to by a trained counsellor.
If the call does not resolve it
- Specialist care
Tele MANAS states that if the caller requires specialised care, the call is handled by a clinical psychologist, psychiatric social worker, psychiatric nurse or psychiatrist, with audio as well as video options.
- In-person referral via eSanjeevani / DMHP
Tele MANAS states that where urgent in-person intervention is needed, callers are referred to the nearest in-person service, or an audio-visual consultation with a specialist is arranged through eSanjeevani, at centres ranging from Health and Wellness Centres to tertiary care centres under DMHP.
A free on-demand app on Google Play and the App Store, linked to the 24/7 toll-free number.
- 1-800-891-4416Tele MANAS toll-free alternative to 14416
How AI voice agents help 14416
Tele MANAS is already built the way a voice deployment should be: IVRS with auto call-back, a trained counsellor first, escalation to a specialist, and 20 languages. That makes the automatable surface narrow and specific — language routing, callback scheduling, and follow-up check-ins between sessions — and the counselling conversation itself firmly off-limits. It is also the sharpest example of a helpline where the safety design, not the technology, sets the boundary.
Frequently asked questions
Is Tele MANAS free and is it available at night?
Yes to both. Tele MANAS describes itself as a 24/7 on-demand service available free of cost, reachable on 14416 or 1-800 891 4416.
Which languages does 14416 support?
Tele MANAS states it is available in 20 Indian languages, to cover the diverse needs surpassing cultural and regional differences of the country.
Is my call recorded?
No. Tele MANAS states audio recording is not done, and that details are documented in the computer system only for basic record.
Will the counsellor tell anyone what I said?
Tele MANAS states details given by the caller are confidential and the counsellor or mental health professional shall not divulge personal details to anyone who asks — with the exception of immediate suicide risk or risk of harm to others, where family members or others who can help are involved to reduce harm.
Can I call on behalf of someone else?
Yes. Tele MANAS states family members of persons with mental health issues can reach out, and that ASHAs and community volunteers can reach out on behalf of individuals in their community.
Is 14416 an emergency service?
Not for in-person emergencies. Tele MANAS states that psychiatric emergencies such as suicide risk or aggression require consultation by doctors in a hospital, and that its counsellors and mental health professionals will advise on the centres where the person can be taken for treatment.
Sources
Everything above was read off these pages on 17 September 2026.