Global Pandemic Response Forum opens Dhara Helpline for general public affected by COVID-19

Counselling is available in English, Hindi, Assamese, Bodo, Marathi, Khasi, Bengali, Garo, Tamil

Two months after launching Dhara Helpline- a mental health support helpline for Corona Warriors, Guwahati-based NGO Global Pandemic Response Forum has today announced that the helpline is now open for the general public affected by the corona pandemic.

WHO warns it could take up to five years before the coronavirus pandemic is under control. United Nations health experts have also expressed that a mental illness crisis is looming as millions of people worldwide are surrounded by death and disease and forced into isolation, poverty and anxiety by the pandemic of COVID-19.

Dharitri Nath, Project Head, Dhara Helpline said, “On May 14, the Director General of WHO made a worldwide appeal to immediately increase access to mental health services or risk a massive increase in mental health conditions in the coming months. As the second highest populous nation, a major component of our country’s response to the coronavirus pandemic will need to include support for the masses with their mental health needs immediately. At Dhara Helpline we have been making efforts to make mental health counselling accessible to all, especially women and children, and the opening of the helpline for the general public was a natural progression for us. While the Dhara Helpline to the Corona Warriors will remain free, we have added a, ‘Pay as you wish’ option for the general public to make the initiative sustainable. Good thing about the Dhara Helpline is that it is open for all and accessible from anywhere in the country.”

To support the general public, Global Pandemic Response Forum has opened Dhara Helpline service on +912239560964 and calls can be made 24 hours a day with the freedom to ‘Pay as you wish’. Counselling at Dhara Helpline is available in English, Hindi, Assamese, Bodo, Marathi, Khasi, Bengali, Garo and Tamil.

“At GPRF, we are consolidating all our mental health projects under the Centre for PTSD Alleviation and Research. Besides operating Dhara Helpline, CPAR will work with governments and civil society globally to advocate and propagate the need for a sound mental healthcare ecosystem,” Nath further added.

At Dhara Helpline, there is an active team of around 150 psychologists from across India. All the counsellors are working from home and contributing pro bono to this effort. Dhara Helpline number for general public is +91 2239560964.

+912239560964 for General Public (pay as you wish). Available 24/7.

+91 92054 67567 for Corona Warriors (free) 4am to 2am daily