The Covid-19 pandemic has had a large impact on the mental health of Indians, with many feeling unsafe, at-risk leading to rise in anxiety and stress. To alleviate these mental health concerns, Mpower, a pioneer in Indian mental healthcare has partnered with Government of Maharashtra and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to launch a toll-free helpline number – 1800-120-820050 called ‘BMC-Mpower 1on1’ that will be available to citizens 24x7.

Available free of cost for people across cities of Maharashtra, the helpline comprises experienced and trained mental health counsellors, who are clinical psychologists and psychiatrists from Mpower – The Centre, Mpower – The Foundation and Mpower – The Cell to provide much needed mental healthcare counsel and support. The service is available in Marathi, Hindi and English to address any mental health concerns faced by citizens of Maharashtra during these trying times. Govt. of Maharashtra and BMC will mobilise support by using its available infrastructure, communication channels and social media platforms to propagate the ‘BMC-Mpower 1on1’ helpline and appeal to people of Maharashtra to avail this free service.

“These are times when the world is seeing an unprecedented crisis that the human race has never imagined or faced before. As a result, everyone has been forced to stay home to stay safe. Although this has given many a rare opportunity to bond and spend time with families, there will also be a sense of anxiety, disappointment and anger with the future of the global economy, our jobs and how the human race reached here. For that, the Maharashtra Government is launching a helpline for better mental health, fully supported and equipped by Mrs. Neerja Birla. I’m thankful to her and Mpower for their addition to our efforts, which will turn out to be most crucial for all in the coming times.” said Mr. Aditya Thackeray, Cabinet Minister of Environment, Tourism and Protocol, Government of Maharashtra

“With the Covid-19 pandemic and the subsequent government mandated national lockdown, we have observed an increase in mental health concerns. Amidst the social isolation, people tend to feel lost and don’t know how to reach out and express themselves. To make mental healthcare more accessible and provide a trusted platform, we have partnered with Mpower, a leading mental health service provider to launch this toll-free helpline. We encourage citizens of Maharashtra to make maximum use of this service, to come out stronger as we battle this outbreak together”, said Mr. Praveen Pardeshi, Municipal Commissioner of Mumbai.

“As the world battles one of its biggest health crisis, where physical health is of utmost importance, mental wellbeing can often be neglected as an outcome of prolonged isolation and ongoing uncertainty. In these trying times, it is natural for us to feel anxious and stressed and now more than ever we need to be more mindful and take care of our mental health. With BMC-Mpower 1on1 helpline, we aim to increase awareness about mental health and make it more accessible to the citizens of Maharashtra. We thank GoM dignitaries Mr. Aditya Thackeray (Minister of Environment, Tourism and Protocol), Mr. Rajesh Tope, (Minister of Public Health & Family Welfare), Dr. Sanjay Mukherjee (Secretary Medical Education & Drugs Dept.), Dr. Pradeep Kumar Vyas (Principal Secretory Public Health Dept.), & Mr. Praveen Pardeshi, Municipal Commissioner of Mumbai for their active support and co-operation to this initiative. We together urge citizens of Maharashtra to speak up and seek help during these challenging times.”, said Mrs. Neerja Birla, Founder and Chairperson, Mpower.

Mpower has been at the forefront of tackling mental health issues across the country. Over the last month, Mpower seen a rise in new cases of mental health concerns like anxiety, stress, depression, paranoia during the Covid-19 pandemic. To address these concerns, Mpower has been providing counselling and therapies virtually though telephonic conversations, online chats, video calling to be able to help them through this phase. Additionally, Mpower has also been sharing health advisories and tips to parents, young professionals and families to better handle everyday situations.