New Delhi: The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi has taken a significant initiative to promote mental health awareness and prevention. AIIMS has collaborated with the Mental Health Foundation, a non-governmental organization, to launch a special portal that allows people to check their mental health status online by answering some questions. The portal is designed to prevent suicide cases by identifying people who are at risk of mental disorders and providing them with timely intervention and support. The portal uses artificial intelligence to analyze the responses and change the mood of the person in 40 seconds if they are having suicidal thoughts. The portal can be very useful for people who are suffering from stress, anxiety, depression, or other mental health issues.
The portal is based on the WHO standards for testing mental health and consists of some simple questions that can be answered by logging in with a mobile number. The questions cover various aspects of mental health, such as mood, sleep, appetite, energy, concentration, self-esteem, etc. The portal gives a score based on the responses and indicates the level of mental health of the person. If the score is very low, it means that the person may have a mental disorder and needs professional help. The portal also offers free online consultation with experts from AIIMS and the Mental Health Foundation.
The portal is part of a larger program called ‘Never Alone’, which will be started by AIIMS by the end of this year to reduce the incidents of suicide in India. According to the WHO, India accounts for 17% of the global suicide deaths. The program aims to create awareness about mental health and provide support and guidance to people who are feeling suicidal or depressed. The program will also involve celebrities, influencers, social workers, and volunteers who will share their stories and experiences related to mental health and inspire others to seek help.
The initiative of AIIMS is a commendable step towards improving the mental health scenario in India, where there is still a lot of stigma and ignorance about mental disorders. The portal can help people assess their mental health easily and conveniently from their homes and get access to quality care and counseling. The portal can also help to save lives by preventing suicide attempts and providing timely intervention.
