iCALL

iCALL – Initiating Concern for All is a pioneering and an empowering mental health project which was started in 2012 by School of Human Ecology, Tata Institute of Social Sciences – Mumbai. iCALL endeavours to provide professional and free counselling through technology assisted mediums such as, telephone, email and chat to anyone in need of emotional support, irrespective of age, gender, sexual orientation or race, and transcending geographical distances while ensuring confidentiality. iCALL is primarily funded by Mariwala Health Initiative (MHI) since April 2015. Mariwala Health Initiative (MHI) is the leading funding body in the field of mental health in India. MHI aligns itself with a rights-based approach and aspires to create a holistic and universally accessible mental health ecosystem by funding mental health organizations that work on innovative, community- based interventions targeting the most marginalised. Helpline counselling is a non-traditional form of providing mental health support. It helps in eliminating geographical limitations, is free and is completely confidential and with advancement of technology, accessing this help has become easier. iCALL’s counselling services are run by professional, trained counsellors, from Monday to Saturday, 8.00 a.m. to 10.00 p.m. iCALL also has partnerships and collaborations with academic institutions, corporates, government and non-government bodies. Faculty from the School of Human Ecology are involved in an advisory capacity in the project, such as recruiting of counsellors, training and monitoring, and evaluation of service delivery.