All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, today launched an AI-based mental health and wellness program called “Never Alone” to tackle student suicides and improve mental health awareness. The program, launched on World Suicide Prevention Day, offers 24/7 virtual and offline consultations with mental health experts through a web-based app accessible via WhatsApp.
The app provides personalised and secure mental health screening for just 70 paise per student per day for institutions with 5 thousand students. According to Dr. Nand Kumar, Professor of Psychiatry at AIIMS Delhi, the program aims to minimise stigma surrounding suicide and increase awareness among students. He mentioned that, as per the data of the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), in 2022, over 1.7 lakh people died by suicide in India, with young adults aged 18-30 years accounting for 35 per cent of all suicides.
