An institute of mental health will launch a helpline on Wednesday morning to help people cope mentally with disease and death.

The helpline — 1800-891-3021 — will be active from 9am to 9pm, seven days a week. People from across the country can call to share their anxieties, problems and feelings with a mental health professional, free of cost.

“In our present uncertain situation, so many people are struggling with stress, anxiety and depression. We wanted to make our community feel supported, to tell them that they are not alone.The toll-free helpline will provide a safe, non-judgemental, and completely confidential environment for anyone to share their innermost fears and feelings,” said psychotherapist Minu Budhia, the founder-director of Caring Minds, which has launched the helpline.

Budhia said “home isolation” could be stressful as people are locked up in their rooms with no physical interaction with even family members. “There is so much news of death of near and dear ones or friends or people in the neighbourhood, which is taking a toll on people’s mental health. Talking to a mental health professional helps to heal. The sad part is at this time people are alone even in their homes,” said Budhia.

The isolation is creating emotional gaps when one cannot see or talk to each other despite living in the same house.

Added to this is the physical stress of battling the disease, said a homemaker who has tested positive for Covid-19.

There are households in the city where all members have tested positive for Covid-19 and they are living in separate rooms fighting the disease on their own. “Mental health is still a taboo in our society and the helpline will help them reach out without worrying about their identity being disclosed,” said Budhia.

She said there were examples of people who had lost family members in the disease and were feeling “suicidal”. “We also want to cater to second-tier cities where there are not many mental wellness clinics. People need emotional support during this time,” said Budhia.

Preeyam Budhia, head of New Initiatives at Caring Minds, said: “People are losing lives and losing their minds and we want to encourage as many people as possible to reach out to us for help.”