Callers made 34,000 out of three lakh calls to address concerns about sleep disturbances.
In the last two months, the average number of daily calls has increased to 1,800 (approximately). Tele Mental Health Assistance and Networking Across States (Tele MANAS) is a government-run mental health helpline offering counseling and support services. The center was launched in October 2022, where NIMHANS is the coordinating center and the International Institute of Information Technology (ITB) in Bangalore is the technology partner for the helpline.
The highest number of calls received by Tele MANAS from states around the country include Tamil Nadu (highest), followed by Maharashtra, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, and Karnataka, respectively.
Sleep disturbances include disorders of initiating and maintaining sleep (DIMS, insomnias), disorders of excessive somnolence (DOES), disorders of sleep-wake schedule, and dysfunctions related to sleep, sleep stages, or partial arousals (parasomnias).
According to Naveen Kumar C., Professor of Psychiatry at NIMHANS and Principal Investigator, reasons for sleep disturbances include symptoms of stress, interpersonal problems, financial issues, anxiety, depression, and worrying are some common concerns in most cases. Counselors advise managing these concerns by implementing sleep hygiene techniques, stress management, yoga and meditation, and consultation with a doctor.
Sunil Kumar K., Lead Consultant – Interventional Pulmonology at Aster CMI Hospital mentioned that disturbed sleep affects the overall physical health of an individual, and may result in long-term effects on cognitive function and overall well-being. He addressed the long-term effects due to these sleep disturbances, including Cognitive (memory issues, irritability, inability to focus) and Physical effects (low immunity, high blood pressure, cardiovascular diseases). He also mentioned that getting enough sleep is essential for the body, it is the way your body heals and restores its chemical balance.
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