( April 15, 2020 )
The pilot phase of tele-counselling which started a week ago in Howrah, Kolkata scanned close to 250 patients daily is now going national
Kolkata, April 15, 2020: The National NGO Smile Foundation plans to reach out to 40,000 families in the next month, across 14 states to provide psychological counselling needs through tele-calling.
“Suicidal tendencies, fears, and anxieties have gripped the poor and migrant labour populations who have been the worst affected by this sudden decision of lockdown by the government to contain the spread of the deadly COVID-19 virus. With the lockdown being extended, our beneficiaries need us more than ever to be there for them. Through this directly connectin with beneficiaries, we aim to create a sense of security and also help in addressing their fears,” said Mr. Santanu Mishra, Co-founder, and Executive Trustee, Smile Foundation.
National NGO Smile Foundation, which works on primary healthcare has drawn out plan to reach out these marginalised and helping them fight their fears and anxiety in this period of lockdown through mental health counseling.
The pilot phase of tele-counselling which started a week ago in Howrah, Kolkata, scanned closed to 250 patients daily. In the coming weeks, the state teams consistin of doctors, nurses, and paramedics will be scaling up operations across all the project states covering both villages and urban slums as well predominantly COVID-19 affected states namely Maharashtra, Delhi-NCR, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Jharkhand, Orissa, Chhattisgarh, and Uttar Pradesh.