@article{ref1,
title="A 1-Year Study on the Usage of Psychiatry Helpline Number - 9108919025",
journal="Indian journal of social psychiatry",
year="2022",
author="Javed, Janisar and Kakunje, Anil",
volume="38",
number="4",
pages="e342-e342",
abstract="BACKGROUND:     To facilitate contact with mental health professionals (MHP), mental health centers are implementing early intervention programs with innovative strategies such as 24 h helpline services. The aim of the present study is to describe the usage of the 24 h psychiatry helpline number - 9108919025.     Materials and Methods:     This is a 1-year retrospective study which was conducted after the Institutional Ethical Committee clearance from May 14, 2019, to May 13, 2020, about the usage and utility of a free psychiatry helpline which is run by the department of psychiatry of a tertiary care teaching hospital. The helpline is available 24 h a day and 7 days a week, with trained MHP receiving the calls. The helpline caters to any emergencies related to emotional, psychological issues, and psychiatric illness.     Results:     The majority of the callers were males (57.2%) compared to female callers (42.8%). The common reason for approaching the helpline was psychosocial issues (46.3%) followed by inquiries related to psychiatric services (37.4%) and drug prescriptions (14.2%). Stress (52.1%) was the most common psychosocial issue faced by the callers followed by depression (11.7%) and interpersonal relationship conflicts (9.5%). Students with stress issues (41%) were the most common age group which approached the helpline followed by adults with work-related stress issues (26%).     Conclusion:     In Indian scenarios, where mental health services are spread unequally, helplines are a faster efficient, cost-effective, easy, stigma free system for helping people with mental illness, educating the public, and for information dissemination about psychiatric disorders.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="2454-8316",
doi="10.4103/ijsp.ijsp_40_21",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.4103/ijsp.ijsp_40_21"
}