What is the Never Alone app
Never Alone is a web-based (and highly secure) app that offers both virtual and offline consultations with mental health professionals. It also includes screening, intervention, and post-intervention follow-ups specifically designed for college and university students.
It’s accessible around the clock, including via WhatsApp. So whether it’s late-night distress or just a bad day, help is never more than a message away
Also read: Silent struggles: Why mental health issues don’t always look obvious
Low-cost option, backed by AIIMS
Affordability has been kept at the core of this initiative. For institutions outside the AIIMS network, the subscription cost is just 70 paise per student per day, a negligible amount considering the scale of support it offers. The app’s model ensures that even institutions with limited resources can subscribe, making mental health care more accessible across the country.
Expert guidance behind the app
The initiative is being developed under the guidance of Dr Nand Kumar, Head of the Department of Psychiatry at AIIMS. His expertise ensures that the app combines cutting-edge AI technology with clinically sound mental health practices.
How to get started
Getting help couldn’t be simpler. Just scan the QR code on the official poster, and you’ll be guided into your personal journey toward better mental wellness.
The timing of this launch is critical. Suicide remains a pressing public health challenge worldwide, with the World Health Organisation estimating that one person dies by suicide every 45 seconds, most of them in low- and middle-income countries. In India, the numbers are particularly worrying: in 2022, young adults between 18 and 30 years made up 35 per cent of all suicides, while those aged 30 to 45 accounted for nearly 32 per cent. Despite counselling cells and psychiatric services existing in many colleges, stigma and lack of awareness continue to prevent students from seeking help.
Never Alone isn’t trying to replace therapy or your support system, but it bridges the gap between feeling isolated and feeling understood. In a sea of apps that treat mental health like a checklist, this one stands out by making sure you’re never dealing with it all… well, alone.
Also read: Post-COVID challenges for working women: Mental health, hybrid work and coping strategies
