Is calling a mental health helpline really free?

Yes. Tele MANAS (14416) is a free Government of India service, and the Vandrevala Foundation, AASRA and iCall lines listed on this page are free NGO and institute services. You pay nothing beyond a normal call where one applies.

Will the helpline tell my family or my employer?

No. These lines exist so you can speak privately. You do not have to give your name on the NGO lines. In the rare case of immediate danger to life, trained counsellors focus on keeping you safe.

What do I say when they answer?

Anything true. 'I am not feeling okay' or 'I do not know why I am calling' is enough. The counsellor is trained to take it from there with gentle questions.

Which helpline works in my language?

Tele MANAS (14416) offers counselling in English, Hindi and many regional languages including Kannada, selected on the call menu. The other lines work mainly in English and Hindi.

Free Help (CSR) / Mental Help / Helplines

Mental Help · Free public service

Free mental health helplines in India, and what happens when you call

By Indraa Kumar D, founder of Apex Influence · Updated 18 October 2026 · Sources checked 18 October 2026

If you are struggling, you do not have to sort out what to call it before you reach out. The people on these lines are trained to listen to exactly what you are carrying, in plain words, for free.

If you are thinking of ending your life, or you are afraid of what tonight could bring: call Tele MANAS on 14416 (free, Government of India, 24 hours), call 112, or go to the nearest hospital emergency department. Or call someone you trust and ask them to come and sit with you. You do not have to explain it well. You only have to say you are not okay.

Call 14416 (Tele MANAS, free, 24 hours)All helplines

Source: Tele MANAS, National Tele Mental Health Programme, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, telemanas.mohfw.gov.in. Checked 18 October 2026.

Free helplines in India

Who	Number	When	What it is
Tele MANAS	14416 or 1-800-891-4416	24 hours, every day	Government of India national mental health helpline, run with NIMHANS. Counselling in English, Hindi, Kannada and many regional languages, chosen on the call menu.
Vandrevala Foundation	9999666555 (call or WhatsApp)	24 hours, every day	Free helpline run by a charitable foundation, for stress, anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts and family trouble. You can message on WhatsApp if talking feels too hard.
AASRA	+91-22-27546669	24 hours, every day	Volunteer crisis centre for the lonely, distressed and suicidal. Trained volunteers who listen with care. English and Hindi.
iCall (TISS)	9152987821	Monday to Saturday, 10 am to 8 pm	Free telephone and email counselling by the Tata Institute of Social Sciences. Email: icall@tiss.edu.
Emergency	112	24 hours	The national emergency number, when there is immediate danger to you or someone else.

Every number above was read on the organisation's own site on 18 October 2026: telemanas.mohfw.gov.in, vandrevalafoundation.com, aasra.info, tiss.ac.in. Numbers can change. If one does not connect, try the next line, and please tell us.

What happens when you call

A trained person answers. On Tele MANAS it is a trained counsellor under the national programme. On AASRA it is a volunteer trained for months before they take a single call. They do this every day. Nothing you say will shock them.
You do not need the right words. "I am not feeling okay" is a complete sentence. They will ask gentle questions and you answer only what you want to.
It is free and private. You do not have to give your name on the NGO lines. Nobody scolds you, nobody calls your family, and nobody shows up at your door for telling the truth about how you feel.
They help you find the next step. Sometimes the call itself is enough for that night. If you need more, they can point you to a counsellor or a doctor near you, including free government services.
You can hang up whenever you want. Calling does not commit you to anything. Many people call several times before they say the heaviest thing. That is normal.

Which number should I call?

Any time, any language, or you are not sure: Tele MANAS, 14416. It is the government line, free, 24 hours.
Talking feels too hard right now: message the Vandrevala Foundation on WhatsApp at 9999666555 and start by typing instead.
You want a person who will simply listen: AASRA, +91-22-27546669, any hour.
You want counselling during the day, or prefer email: iCall, 9152987821, Monday to Saturday, 10 am to 8 pm, or icall@tiss.edu.
Someone is in danger right now: 112, or the nearest hospital emergency department. Do not wait.

Calling for someone else

All of these lines also take calls from a worried friend or family member. If you do not know what to do about someone you love, call and say exactly that. See also: how to help someone who is struggling.