Mental illness is something that no one can see and yet, it eats you up from the inside. So many of us have felt helpless and emotionally distressed at different points in our lives. However, most of us never go to a therapist because of the stigma attached to mental illness.
If not the stigma, then the money involved keeps us away from getting help. But India desperately needs to find a way to make mental health help available to all. While there are various professionals who you can go to, there aren’t many who would provide their services without charging any money.
Hence, we bring you a list of organisations you can contact on the days when you feel like life doesn’t make sense:
1. Get help with just an email with Banjara Academy
Banjara Academy has been helping people struggling with mental illness and this initiative by them is particularly applause worthy. Just send an email to mycounsellor@banjaraacademy.org listing out all your problems. There are no hidden costs or registration that would be required of you.
2. Call up The Vandrevala Foundation on their helpline number
Irrespective of where you are in India, you can contact them on: 1860-266-2345 and 1800-233-3330. The staff is taught by trained clinical psychologists and psychiatrists. You can ask for an experienced psychiatrist as well. The aim here is to figure out the problem and see how it can be fixed.
3. Speak to someone at iCALL
It is apparently a psychosocial helpline, which offers counselling services to people in distress. The service is run by professional, trained counsellors, from Monday to Saturday, 8 AM to 10 PM. They aim at providing emotional support and guidance through call or mail.
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4. Chat with a professional with ePsyclinic
The site also has an app. You just need to get on it and start chatting with a professional. It was started especially for the young work force of India and helps professionals deal with depression, anxiety, addiction and even relationship issues.
5. Speak to someone in person at Sanjivini Society For Mental Health, Delhi
If you feel the need to speak to someone in person, you can get yourself an appointment at this place by calling them up at 24311918. The volunteers here are extremely patient and will give you a listening ear and try to solve your issues.
6. Addiction problem? Visit Shanti Home in Noida
Shanti Home offers free mental help to everyone but the organisation specialises in helping people battling addiction. If you think you may have a problem that needs a solution, you can contact them at 9811603233 and 9650615777.
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It is important to mention here that not a lot of organisations offer free support. All the sites and organisations talking about providing mental health support have various different hidden costs.
While this needs to change, don’t hesitate to reach out and seek help from any of the organisations mentioned above. And if you know of more such organisations, do pass on the information in the comments section.