A patient presents with suicidal thoughts and symptoms of depression. As a nurse, where should you primarily refer the patient for immediate mental health support in India?

1. A

   NIMHANS helpline

2. B

   Tele-MANAS

3. C

   AYUSH services

4. D

   General outpatient department

Appeared in: NORCET 10 Prelims-2026

Explanation

Listen in Hindi

• Tele-MANAS is the Government of India's official national tele-mental health program.
• It provides free, 24/7 crisis intervention and counseling services across the country.
• It is specifically designed for immediate support, making it the most appropriate primary referral for a patient with suicidal thoughts.
• The service is accessible via toll-free numbers (14416 or 1-800-891-4416), ensuring wide reach.

Why Other Options Were Wrong

• Option A: NIMHANS is a premier physical institute and a mentoring body for Tele-MANAS, not the primary nationwide helpline network itself.
• Option C: AYUSH services focus on traditional and alternative medicine, which are not equipped to handle acute psychiatric emergencies like suicidal ideation.
• Option D: A general OPD is not a specialized service for mental health crises and may involve significant delays. A suicidal patient requires immediate, specialized attention.

Related Visual

• Visual 1: Infographic: A flowchart illustrating the correct referral pathway for a patient with suicidal ideation in India, starting with calling the Tele-MANAS helpline and showing subsequent steps like counseling and referral to local services if needed.
• Visual 2: Image: A poster showing the Tele-MANAS logo, the toll-free numbers (14416), and a message encouraging people to seek help for mental health issues.

Clinical Relevance

• Nursing practice connection: Use the key finding related to Knowledge of national mental health referral pathways in India for acute psychiatric emergencies to guide bedside assessment, documentation, and the next nursing action.
• A nurse's primary responsibility when encountering a patient with suicidal thoughts is to ensure their safety and connect them to immediate, appropriate care. Knowing the correct national helpline is a critical life-saving skill.
• This question highlights the importance of being aware of government healthcare initiatives and local resources to provide effective patient care and guidance.
• What if? If the patient has no phone or internet access, the nurse's immediate responsibility is to not leave the patient alone and facilitate their transfer to the nearest hospital's emergency department or a dedicated psychiatric facility for an urgent in-person assessment.

How to Approach the Question

• First, identify the key elements of the question: a patient with 'suicidal thoughts' needs 'immediate' support in 'India'.
• The word 'immediate' is crucial; it signals a crisis that requires a rapid and specialized response.
• The word 'primarily' asks for the first and most appropriate point of contact.
• Evaluate the options based on these criteria: Which service is specifically designed for immediate, nationwide mental health crisis intervention in India?
• Recall or deduce the roles of each service. Tele-MANAS is a national tele-health initiative for mental health. NIMHANS is a physical institute. AYUSH is for traditional medicine. A general OPD is non-specialized.
• Conclude that the dedicated, 24/7 national helpline (Tele-MANAS) is the most suitable primary referral for an immediate crisis.

Concept Tested & Keywords

• Concept Tested: Knowledge of national mental health referral pathways in India for acute psychiatric emergencies.
• Stem keywords: suicidal thoughts, depression, nurse, primarily refer, immediate mental health support, India
• Lead-in keywords: primarily refer
• Clinical cues: Patient with suicidal thoughts requires immediate action.
• Clinical cues: The setting is India, requiring knowledge of the Indian healthcare system.

Question ID

Q0siplt04Ba971y4PvewVz

Copy ID