Mental Health Helplines in India: The Complete 2026 List

Most lists of mental health helplines in India that you'll find by searching are out of date. Numbers have changed, hours have shifted, and the most important one — the new government Tele MANAS line — barely shows up at the top of search results yet. This article fixes that. It's a working list as of 2026, with clear notes on what each one is for.

If you or someone near you is in immediate danger, call 112 (national emergency) or one of the 24×7 lines below.

The most important number, first

Tele MANAS — 14416 (or 1-800-891-4416)

Run by the Government of India under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, launched in October 2022. 24×7. Free. Multilingual. Call from any phone, anywhere in India. Trained counsellors answer, and they can refer to local services or specialists. As of 2026, this is the official national mental health helpline of India.

Both numbers go to the same service. 14416 works as a short code; the toll-free 1-800-891-4416 is the alternative.

If you remember only one number from this article, remember this one.

Established 24×7 helplines (non-government)

Vandrevala Foundation — 1860-2662-345 / 1800-2333-330

Free, confidential, 24×7 support across India. Both numbers route to the same service. Trained counsellors. One of the oldest and most reliable lines in the country.

iCall (TISS) — +91 9152987821

Run by the Tata Institute of Social Sciences. Mon–Sat, 8 AM – 8 PM. Email support also available at icall@tiss.edu. Counsellors are trained mental health professionals (psychologists and social workers). Particularly good if you want a longer, structured conversation rather than a brief crisis check-in.

AASRA — +91 9820466726

Mumbai-based, but takes calls from anywhere. 24×7. Has been running since 1998. Specifically focused on suicide prevention and emotional crisis. Free and confidential.

Sneha India — 044-24640050

Chennai-based, takes calls from anywhere. 24×7. Suicide prevention focus. Has Tamil-speaking volunteers, which matters in southern India where English/Hindi-only helplines can be a barrier.

NIMHANS-related

NIMHANS Centre for Well-Being — 080-46110007

Toll-free helpline run from the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences in Bangalore. 24×7. This is the line to use if you specifically want to be connected to NIMHANS resources or ask about referrals to its outpatient services.

Specific populations

Childline (children up to 18) — 1098

24×7. Free. Government of India's child protection helpline. Use this for any child in distress — abuse, mental health emergency, runaway situations. Operators are trained to connect children to appropriate services.

Veterans / armed forces — Manodarpan, 8448440632

For students, families, and others affected by armed-forces-related stress. Run by the Ministry of Defence with NIMHANS support. 8 AM – 8 PM.

LGBTQ+ mental health — Humsafar Trust, +91 22 26673800

Mumbai-based peer support during business hours. iCall and Vandrevala are also LGBTQ+ affirmative.

What to expect when you call

People hesitate to call because they're not sure what'll happen. Here's the realistic answer for any of the major Indian helplines:

1. A trained operator answers — usually within 30–60 seconds
2. They'll ask your first name, your city, and what's happening
3. They'll listen. They won't interrupt with advice immediately
4. They'll assess whether this is an immediate-safety call or an emotional support call. Their response shifts accordingly
5. For emotional support calls, they'll often stay with you for 30–45 minutes if you need
6. For immediate-safety situations (active suicide attempt, danger to others), they'll either keep you on the line until help arrives or, with your permission, alert local services

Calls are confidential. Operators are not required to tell your family unless you're in immediate danger.

What helplines are not for

• They are not therapy. A 30-minute call won't replace ongoing care
• They cannot prescribe medication
• They cannot guarantee a follow-up — though many will offer to call back

Helplines are for the moment. For ongoing support, see a clinical psychologist or psychiatrist. Sagemitra can match you with one once the crisis has passed.

A note on "the helpline didn't pick up"

This happens. India's helpline infrastructure has improved a lot but is still strained. If one number doesn't connect, try another from this list. 112 is your fallback for genuine emergencies.

You are not being dramatic by calling. The lines exist because people need them.

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This article is updated periodically. Last reviewed: April 2026. If you've reached this page in distress, please call 14416 (Tele MANAS) or 112 (national emergency) before reading further.