‘Never Alone’ Mental Health App

Context

AIIMS Delhi, in collaboration with AIIMS Bhubaneswar and IHBAS Shahdara, has recently launched an AI-powered mental health support app named ‘Never Alone’. This initiative aims to make mental health care accessible, affordable, and stigma-free for students across educational institutions in India.

Key Features

· Platform: Web-based app accessible via WhatsApp and QR code.

· Availability: 24×7 access to mental health screening and counselling.

· Cost: ₹0.70 per student/day (institution-funded).

· Diagnostic System: Uses DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) for clinical evaluation.

· Consultation: Offers both online and offline expert sessions.

Purpose

· Reduces stigma associated with mental health by offering confidential and easy access to help.

· Enhances early diagnosis, intervention, and long-term care, particularly for students in high-stress academic environments.

Reach

· To be deployed in institutions like AIIMS Delhi, AIIMS Bhubaneswar, and IHBAS, with broader rollout planned.

Significance

Addresses Stigma: Offers anonymous, AI-driven mental health support, reducing the fear of being judged
Accessible Care: Available round the clock(24hours), even in remote or rural areas
Affordable Model: Scalable across institutions at low cost
Comprehensive Support: Includes diagnosis, consultation, and long-term follow-up

Mental Health Statistics in India

Suicides in India (2022): Over 1.7 lakh deaths, highest in 56 years (NCRB)
Age-wise distribution:

35% in 18–30 age group
32% in 30–45 age group

Global Data: 7.27 lakh suicide deaths globally in 2021, 73% in low- and middle-income countries (WHO)

Mental Health Crisis in students

Data Insights

· 13,000+ student suicides in 2022 (7.6% of all suicides).

· Suicide rate among 18–30-year-olds: 35%; 30–45 age group: 32%.

· Annual student suicide growth: 4%, outpacing population growth.

Major Issues

· Stigma around seeking help.

· Pressure from competitive exams (NEET, JEE).

· Lack of trained professionals and institutional accountability.

· Insufficient state regulation of coaching centers.

India’s Mental Health Initiatives:

· Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 decriminalized suicide attempts, emphasizing rehabilitation and rights-based care.

· National Mental Health Programme (NMHP), launched in 1982, integrates mental health with general healthcare, promotes community involvement, and develops skilled professionals.

· Tele MANAS program, started in 2022, offers free 24/7 tele-mental health support in 20 languages, expanding accessibility nationwide.

Supreme Court's Guidelines on Mental Health in Education

· All institutions must adopt a comprehensive mental health policy.

· Institutions with 100+ students must appoint certified counsellors or psychologists.

· Institutions may face culpability for negligence leading to self-harm or suicide.

· Mandatory registration and mental health safeguards for coaching centres.

Conclusion

The combined approach of AIIMS’s digital mental health app and the Supreme Court’s legally binding mental health reforms marks a transformative shift in addressing student well-being. While Never Alone leverages AI for accessible care, the Court’s intervention ensures structural accountability and protection of student rights.

Moving forward, sustained implementation, regulatory backing, and attitudinal change in society are essential to embed mental health as a core part of India’s educational and public health policy. These steps, if scaled effectively, can help India move from a crisis response to preventive mental healthcare for its youth.