Residential program for Speak2Us volunteers underway in Madurai.
| Photo Credit: G. MOORTHY
The Speak2Us mental health helpline has imparted a two-day residential program for its new volunteers at the Pillar Training Centre, Nagamalai Pudukottai.
According to a press release from the MS Chellamuthu Trust and Research Foundation issued on Monday, its founder and psychiatrist C Ramasubramanian inaugurated the training program.
The helpline, which was established in October 2020 with the support of the HCL Foundation, has 63 volunteers, who have collectively handled 6000 calls, the majority from adolescents and adults. A distinctive feature of this helpline is that it is entirely volunteer-driven, with trained volunteers offering confidential and empathetic assistance.
While its impact has been significant, the demand for mental health services has far exceeded current capacity, highlighting the urgent need to expand operations. To address this, the Trust has initiated measures to strengthen the helpline through the adoption of advanced technology to improve service quality and response time, expansion of the volunteer base through targeted recruitment and rigorous training, and the launch of widespread awareness campaigns to reduce stigma and encourage people to seek help, Dr Ramasubramanian said and added that callers can reach the helpline through 9375493754.
As part of its capacity-building efforts, the Trust conducted a Competency Building Training for 28 new volunteers, who had successfully completed online training in mental health and psychological first aid.
Lauding the services of the existing volunteers at Speak2Us, Dr. Ramasubramanian said that the dedication and compassion in easing the suffering of those experiencing mental health crises was commendable.
The Speak2us Mental Health Helpline reflects a vision of making mental health care affordable, accessible, and stigma-free.
By blending professional expertise with community-driven volunteerism, it not only provides immediate assistance during crises but also promotes mental health literacy, fosters resilience, and contributes to long-term societal change. Through its ongoing efforts, the initiative aims to build a future where mental health is prioritized, stigma is eliminated, and timely support is available to all who need it.
Against this backdrop, the Speak2us Mental Health Helpline has emerged as a crucial support system, offering timely intervention, emotional support, and non-judgmental listening to those in need, the release added.
Published – August 11, 2025 10:40 pm IST
