In a significant step towards addressing the growing mental health crisis among medical professionals, the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) has launched a toll-free Mental Health Redressal Helpline (MHRH) for doctors and medical students across the country. The helpline aims to provide free and confidential mental health support to healthcare professionals struggling with stress, burnout, and emotional challenges.
The initiative comes amid rising cases of suicides among doctors and medical students. In July, a young doctor from Mumbai’s JJ Hospital tragically ended his life, highlighting the urgent need for accessible mental health care. Despite the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017, which recognises mental health as a basic right, awareness and support mechanisms for doctors remain inadequate.
The helpline, conceptualised by Dr. Sajal Bansal from Nagpur, has been launched under the leadership of Dr. Akshay Dongardive, FAIMA’s president and a senior doctor at Mumbai’s Nair Hospital, along with FAIMA chairman Dr. Manish Jangra. Over 50 psychiatrists from across India have volunteered to provide round-the-clock support to medical students, resident doctors, and healthcare workers.
Speaking about the initiative, Dr. Dongardive said, “Doctors are constantly under immense pressure due to increasing patient loads, long working hours, and academic challenges. Unfortunately, the mental health of those who save lives often goes neglected. This helpline is an attempt to provide timely psychological assistance and prevent extreme steps like suicide.”
The helpline will operate 20 hours a day, seven days a week, offering consultations in multiple languages, including English, Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Gujarati, Urdu and Punjabi. Each day, a dedicated team of psychiatrists will be available in shifts to ensure that medical professionals from different regions and linguistic backgrounds can comfortably seek help.
FAIMA has also roped in doctors including Dr. Jaideep Chaudhary (Jharkhand), Dr. Srinath (Andhra Pradesh), and Dr. Sagnik Mukherjee (Kolkata), as key coordinators for the service. Doctors from Maharashtra, along with several other states, are actively contributing to this collective effort, Dr. Bansal said.
With this initiative, FAIMA plans to extend its reach to resident doctors, MBBS students, and healthcare workers in government and private institutions.
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Dr. Bansal said, “With rising cases of depression, anxiety, and burnout among medicos, FAIMA believes the helpline could become a lifeline for thousands in the fraternity. This initiative highlights the urgent need to prioritise the mental well-being of healthcare providers, ensuring that those who save lives have access to care and support when they need it the most.”
For assistance, doctors can contact FAIMA’s Mental Health Redressal Helpline (MHRH) and receive free, confidential, and compassionate support from trained professionals.
FAIMA’s Mental Health Redressal Helpline
Monday
7 a.m. to 10 a.m.: Dr. Dhritiman Das – 8117883482 (English, Hindi, Bengali)
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Dr. M. Suresh Kumar – 9492584533 (English, Telugu)
2 p.m. to 5 p.m.: Dr. Saurabh Shekhar – 9716515274 (English, Hindi)
5 p.m. to 8 p.m.: Dr. Varisha Srivastava – 7798284292 (Hindi, English, Marathi, Telugu)
8 p.m. to 11 p.m.: Dr. Tony Lazar Thomas – 9916232968 (English, Hindi, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam)
11 p.m. to 2 a.m.: Dr. Sagnik Mukherjee – 9051298906 (English, Hindi, Bengali, Telugu)
Tuesday
7 a.m. to 10 a.m.: Dr. Surekha – 9985777951 (English, Hindi, Telugu)
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Dr. B. Md. Naveeth – 6383001064 (English, Tamil)
2 p.m. to 5 p.m.: Dr. Ganesh Kr. Meena – 9868994199 (English, Hindi)
Dr. Mani Deepika Tallap – 8333940116 (English, Hindi, Telugu, Kannada)
5 p.m. to 8 p.m.: Dr. Rajeet Kumar – 7018128837 (English, Hindi)
Dr. Sindhu -9177752913 (English, Hindi, Telugu)
8 p.m. to 11 p.m.: Dr. Vishal M. Jani – 8140229471 (English, Hindi)
Dr. Varisha Srivastava – 7798284292 (Hindi, English, Marathi, Telugu)
11 p.m. to 2 a.m.: Dr. Sagnik Mukherjee – 9051288906 (English, Hindi, Bengali, Telugu)
Wednesday
7 a.m. to 10 a.m.: Dr. Shamilini Das – 8117883482 (English, Hindi, Bengali)
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Dr. Manthan Miroliya – 6353290818 (English, Hindi, Gujarati)
2 p.m. to 5 p.m.: Dr. Namit Gautam – 7905072869 (English, Hindi)
Dr. Prince Gupta – 7988877401 (Hindi, English)
5 p.m. to 8 p.m.: Dr. N. D. Pratyush – 8639825658 (English, Telugu)
8 p.m. to 11 p.m.: Dr. Boda Bhanu Sai – 9676163315 (English, Telugu)
11 p.m. to 2 a.m.: Dr. Sagnik Mukherjee -9051298906 (English, Hindi, Bengali, Telugu)
Thursday
7 a.m. to 10 a.m.: Dr. Surekha – 9988777951 (English, Hindi, Telugu)
Dr. Dhritiman Das – 8117883482 (English, Hindi, Bengali)
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Dr. Myle Muralidhar – 8913931260 (English, Hindi, Telugu, Kannada)
2 p.m. to 5 p.m.: Dr. Matam Apoorva – 8374806491 (English, Telugu)
5 p.m. to 8 p.m.: Dr. Yogesh Tripathi – 9470027471 (English, Hindi)
Dr. Sindhu – 9177752913 (English, Hindi, Telugu)
8 p.m. to 11 p.m.: Dr. Vishal M. Jani – 8140229471 (English, Hindi)
11 p.m. to 2 a.m.: Dr. Sagnik Mukherjee – 9051298906 (English, Hindi, Bengali, Telugu)
Friday
7am to 10am: Dr. Dhritiman Das – 8117883482 (English, Hindi, Bengali)
10am to 2pm: Dr. B. Md. Naveeth – 6383001064 (English, Tamil)
2pm to 5pm: Dr. Shivanand Kattimani -8754970078 (English, Hindi, Kannada)
Dr. DHV Krishna – 8555891066 (English, Hindi, Telugu)
Dr. Prince Gupta – 7988877401 (Hindi, English)
5pm to 8pm: Dr. Amit Kr. Meena – 8010933533 (English, Hindi)
8pm to 11pm: Dr. Tony Lazar Thomas – 9916232968 (English, Hindi, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam)
11pm to 2am: Dr. Sagnik Mukherjee – 9051298906 (English, Hindi, Bengali, Telugu)
Saturday
7am to 10am: Dr. Surekha – 9985777951 (English, Hindi, Telugu)
10am to 2pm: Dr. Manthan Miroliya – 6353290818 (English, Hindi, Gujarati)
2pm to 5pm: Dr. Priya Arora – 8556822360 (English, Hindi)
5pm to 8pm: Dr. Rajeet Kumar – 7018128837 (English, Hindi)
8pm to 11pm: Dr. Md. Adil Faizan – 8008443637 (English, Telugu, Urdu)
Dr. Nabanita Mandal – 9100115215 (English, Hindi, Bengali)
11pm to 2am: Dr. Deepak Chaubey – 7905974714 (English, Hindi)
Sunday
7am to 10am: Dr. Mallikarjun Marri – 7702590520 (English, Hindi, Telugu, Urdu)
Dr. Shweta Chanalia – 9988933968 (English, Hindi, Punjabi)
10am to 2pm: Dr. Ranjit Singh – 7986455418 (English, Hindi)
Dr. Charon Kr. Pottem – 7989474639 (English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada)
2pm to 5pm: Dr. Luxmi – 9138314613 (English, Hindi)
Dr. Srividya – 8342881493 (English, Telugu)
Dr. Kanchan Garg – 9142091980 (English, Hindi)
5pm to 8pm: Dr. Yendhuri Prabhakar – 9515150999 (Telugu)
Dr. Medha Reddy – 9505760221 (English, Hindi, Telugu)
Dr. Durga Ritesh – 9866319913 (English, Telugu)
8pm to 11pm: Dr. Jammula Kundan Shivaji – 7987947093 (English, Hindi, Telugu)
11pm to 2am: Dr. Deepak Chaubey – 7905974714 (English, Hindi)
