Mental Health App Fails Hearing-Impaired Users

A recent initiative by the Union health ministry and NIMHANS, the Tele Manas app, has been found to exclude individuals with hearing impairments. Pradeep PK, a resident of Malleswaram, expressed frustration that the app lacks alternative communication methods like chat or email, relying solely on phone calls. This issue is not isolated, as many recently launched mental health helplines, both public and private, predominantly offer only landline or mobile numbers.

Activists emphasize that individuals with hearing and speech impairments in the city have limited resources during mental health emergencies. While some independent chatbots exist, they lack credible institutional backing. VS Basavaraju of the Disability NGOs Alliance pointed out that large-scale government programs often fail to cater to minority needs, leaving those with impairments without adequate support.

Accessibility challenges extend beyond hearing and speech impairments, affecting senior citizens and stroke patients who may struggle with communication. However, positive changes are anticipated. Naveen Kumar C, a professor at NIMHANS, stated that feedback from persons with disabilities is being actively considered, and accessibility enhancements are planned within the next few months.

The health minister, Dinesh Gundu Rao, has pledged to investigate the development of a chat-based system to assist those in need, acknowledging the prevalence of this problem.