Tele MANAS records highest number of calls seeking help for sleep disorders 

Since its inception in October last year, Tele MANAS, the government-run national tele-mental health helpline, has recorded the highest number of calls seeking help for sleep orders. Of the nearly three lakh calls received so far, over 34,000 were made for sleep disturbance. Calls seeking help for sadness, stress, and anxiety came next.

Since its inception in October last year, Tele MANAS, the government-run national tele-mental health helpline, has recorded the highest number of calls seeking help for sleep orders. Of the nearly three lakh calls received so far, over 34,000 were made for sleep disturbance. Calls seeking help for sadness, stress, and anxiety came next.

Of the total 2,98,940 calls received at the national 24/7 helpline as of Tuesday (September 12), as many as 34,139 callers sought help for sleep disturbance. While 32,239 calls received were for seeking help for sadness, 28,000 calls were stress-related. Overall, 44% of the three lakh calls were made by female callers. 

To provide affordable access to quality mental health care through tele-services under the National Mental Health Programme (NMHP), the Centre launched the Tele Mental Health Assistance and Networking Across States (Tele MANAS) initiative on October 10, 2022.  NIMHANS is the national Apex Coordinating Centre, and the International Institute of Information Technology (IIITB) in Bengaluru is the technology partner for this helpline. 

Sleep disturbances encompass disorders of initiating and maintaining sleep (DIMS, insomnias), disorders of excessive somnolence (DOES), disorders of sleep–wake schedule, and dysfunctions associated with sleep, sleep stages, or partial arousals (parasomnias).

Elaborating on the reasons for sleep disturbances, Naveen Kumar C., Professor of Psychiatry at NIMHANS and Principal Investigator, Apex Coordinating Centre for Tele MANAS, said stress, interpersonal problems, financial issues, anxiety, depression and worries are some of the causes.

“Advice is based on the causes of complaints. While it is important to address the underlying issues, the counsellors advise stress management and sleep hygiene techniques, yoga and meditation and if required, a consultation with a doctor too,” he said.

Sunil Kumar K., Lead Consultant - Interventional Pulmonology at Aster CMI Hospital, said lack of sleep or disturbed sleep affects physical health and also has an immense long-term impact on cognitive function and overall well-being.