24x7 mental health helpline from Jan

Mumbai: The BMC's 24x7 mental health helpline will be operational from January. The helpline is aimed at counselling patients. It will also refer patients requiring medical help to civic hospitals.      In 2010, the BMC had announced that it will launch the 'Life is Beautiful' helpline; however, the plan never took off due to administrative delay. But now, with the rising number of mental health cases, the plan has been revived. Head of psychiatry department at KEM hospital Dr Shubhangi Parkar will head the project.      Additional municipal commissioner Manisha Mhaiskar said counsellors will be hired to work in three shifts. The helpline will also be linked to the police control room.      "We will target those in the vulnerable category and conduct seminars for them. We have planned 24 seminars in the next year," said Mhaiskar.