Global Pandemic Response Forum (GPRF), an NGO, based in Guwahati has launched Dhara Helpline – a mental health helpline dedicated to support corona warriors, team of medics, paramedics and the law and order personnel.
The corona warriors are working day and night away from their family and friends and then they are going for fourteen days quarantine.
Excessive workload, stress, fear and anxiety of the disease have taken a toll on mental health of a greater number of these warriors.
To support these warriors, Dhara Helpline was initially launched in English and Assamese languages.
Gradually, Bodo, Hindi, Marathi, Khasi and Bengali speaking counselors were added to the Helpline.
Efforts to add Garo, Dimasa, Nepali, Tamil, Telegu, Malayalam and Kannada and international languages like French, Arabic, Spanish and Russian are currently underway.
At Dhara helpline, there is an active team of 70+ psychologists from across India, and 83 more are undergoing orientation and training on tele-counseling best practices.
All the counselors are working from home and contributing pro bono to this effort.
Dhara helpline number is +91 92054 67567 and available 22 hours a day from 4 am to 2 am.
Dharitri Nath, Project Head, Dhara Helpline said, “At GPRF we quickly realized the need for a mental health support system for our corona warriors.”
“We decided upon a telephonic helpline, as it would be the most efficient counseling delivery tool, when isolation protocols are in place. We are adding more languages every week to Dhara Helpline and will soon be open for the general public across India,” she added.