Helpline offers free mental health counselling to tide over corona crisis

Sangamesh Menasinakai | TNN | Apr 26, 2020, 15:11 IST

HUBBALLI: The Covid-19 lockdown has adversely affected businesses, livelihood and schedules of people, leading to confusion and despair among many. Experiences of stress, anxiety, fear, pain and loneliness have become common during this grim scenario. The most affected seem to be the frontline staff like policemen, paramedical staff and hospital workers who are required to work overtime and under trying conditions.
Coming to their rescue is a group of volunteers which has launched the helpline “Spreading Beautiful Smiles” to provide free non-medicated counselling. The helpline (8618568239) launched on April 18 is offered in three languages: Kannada, Hindi and English.
Fonal Sharad, one of the counsellors, said the team helps individuals undergoing mental turbulences due to the current crisis. “We are looking forward to imbibe positivity, happiness, strength, courage and hope among the needy citizens to help them deal with this not-so-good time in the most productive manner,” she said.
Naveen Jha, an organiser of the helpline, said the team has 11 trained psychologists, psychotherapists and experienced counsellors with varied language proficiency and three volunteers. “As we have shared this helpline number on social platforms, we are receiving calls from persons under stress from other cities like Bengaluru, Mysuru, Mangaluru, Belagavi and even from states like Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Andhra Pradesh,” he stated.
Srinivas Shastri, a vocational counsellor, said credentials of callers will be kept confidential. “Those interested should fix an appointment in advance,” he said.