NIMHANS to launch MindNotes app, online peer support forum

The app help individuals in the community who may be experiencing distress/common mental health concerns but are unsure about seeking professional help

The National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) will mark the World Mental Health Day on October 10, with the theme 'Mental healthcare for all: Let's make it a reality', by launching MindNotes app, and an online peer support forum.

Mansukh Mandaviya, Minister for Health and Family Welfare, and President of NIMHANS, will be the Chief Guest. Rajesh Bhushan, Secretary to the union health ministry, will also take part in the event as a special guest.

NIMHANS has come up with MindNotes app to help individuals in the community who may be experiencing distress/common mental health concerns but are unsure or ambivalent about seeking professional help.

The app has been developed by a team of mental health professionals from the Department of Clinical Psychology and Centre for Public Health at NIMHANS, and International Institute of Information Technology, Bengaluru (IIIT-B) in collaboration with and funding support from Microsoft Research India.

It contains multiple sections with interactive exercises aimed at enhancing self- awareness, gaining clarity about the nature of common mental health concerns, recognising and dealing with barriers that prevent individuals from seeking professional help, and picking up self-help tools along the way.

The app thus helps people navigate their mental wellness journey by serving as a bridge between self- awareness, self- help and professional help as per the need. The app would be made available on Play Store for controlled release/early access and testing on October 10, and subsequently would be accessible to the public, free of cost after six weeks.

Online Peer Support Forum

Psych-Care Online Peer Support Forum for mental health will also be launched to provide a safe space for youth to anonymously share their thoughts, feelings and concerns impacting their mental wellbeing, and receive support from trained peer-volunteers.

Responses will be offered by youth volunteers trained at NIMHANS and their responses would be moderated by a panel of experienced mental health professionals. The first batch of peer support providers have already been trained for this purpose. The online forum, currently available in English, is a collaboration between NIMHANS and IIIT-B.

It is an extension of MANAS, an initiative by the Office of the Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India. This forum is a step towards empowering Indian youth, helping them to engage in conversations on their wellbeing and offer first-line of basic mental health support to each other.

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