Srinagar : The Divisional Administration Kashmir on Thursday organized an online training programme for psychologists and counsellors to help people suffering from depression, anxiety, stress, hopelessness, dejection and frustration due to social, environmental, political, stigma, substance abuse, covid pandemic and metabolic problems through a Mental Health helpline named ‘Sukoon’.
As the experts show apprehension regarding increasing in rate of depression in Kashmir, the Divisional Administration determined the need for setting up a mental health helpline to take people out of freaking mental health through virtual counseling.
In this regard, around 60 psychologists and counsellors from all districts of Kashmir Division were imparted training regarding the working system and operation of 24*7 SUKOON-Mental Health HelpLine for Virtual Assistance.
The help line shall be launched by the Divisional Administration Kashmir very soon. The training programme was presided over by I/C Divisional Control Room Kashmir (DCRK), Tahir Ahmad Magray.
It is informed that a Voice portal for providing Mental Health Counselling has been created on the directions of Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Pandurang K Pole, to address queries related to various issues related to mental health and substance abuse disorders.
It is reported that more than 3 lakh people are involved in substance abuse in J&K, who need immediate counseling from experts to abstain from the menace and relinquish delinquency.
It is apprehended that there will be pandemic of liver failure due to substance abuse. The helpline will be highly valuable to counsel such people who are involved in drug addiction without disclosing their identity.
Users need to dial a toll free number (1800-180-7202), the call will go to Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system.
Speech enabled IVR system will process the request and map it to the corresponding functionality and the supported content is played back.
This telephonic connectivity shall benefit all those who cannot access face-to-face counselling for reasons like unavailability, stigma, financial difficulties etc. and client confidentiality shall be given priority within ethical limitations, Tahir Magray informed.
