COUNSELLING ASSIST (2021–2022)

During the Covid-19 pandemic, frontline healthcare workers played a crucial role in providing care to those affected. They worked in unprecedented situations, braving risks to their own health as well as other hardships. In the process, many of them became vulnerable to stress-related disorders, anxiety, depression, and burnout. It was important that their own mental and physical health and well-being were taken care of.

Objective

Counselling Assist began in July 2021 as Frontline Assist for healthcare workers in need of mental health support during the Covid-19 pandemic. Free tele-counselling, community support via listening circles and evidence-based information and tips were the main offerings of this program. Subsequently, the program was expanded to offer free tele-counseling to the general public as well.

Implementation

LiveLoveLaugh partnered with mental health NGO Sangath to support its dedicated Covid-19 Well-being Center which offered a range of free well-being services to the general public. LLL supported the initiative with sale proceeds from The Deepika Padukone Closet, helping it amplify its reach as well as scale up the impact. The tele-counseling services were accessible free of cost by anyone in India, and were delivered in four languages – English, Hindi, Marathi, and Konkani.

In addition to funding the helpline, our communication footprint facilitated greater awareness about the initiative, ensuring that more people accessed these essential mental health services.

Beneficiaries
General Public
Languages
English, Hindi, Marathi, Konkani
Session fee
Free of cost
Mode of Delivery
Online
Geography
India

Free Tele-counselling: Accessible from anywhere in India, anyone who needed support could speak to a trained and qualified counselor between 10 am and 6 pm on all days of the week.

Online sessions, led by a qualified facilitator, accommodated up to 10 participants, fostering mutual support through shared vulnerability.

A thoughtfully curated list of supportive resources to support mental well-being was made available on the Sangath wellbeing center website.

Impact on– Thinking, attitudes, behaviour

Caller Details

There was a steady increase in the number of callers, with the highest number of callers being female.
The highest number of callers were from Maharashtra, followed by Delhi and Uttar Pradesh.
Anxiety and depression were found to be the most commonly noted reasons for seeking counselling.

Testimonials

The counsellor was very humble, and I felt heard. I asked the counsellor what the charges are, and she mentioned that you are an NGO that is working during the COVID-19 pandemic, and mental health services are very expensive these days. So, working free of cost is very beneficial.

Session koaf acha tha, jo sawaal the uske jawab mile. Counsellor kaaf friendly tha.

Tele-Counselling Service

Helped me relate to others, feel validated and heard.

It helped me feel validated.

Listening Circles

COUNSELLING ASSIST (2021–2022)

Implementation

Impact on– Thinking, attitudes, behaviour

There was a steady increase in the number of callers, with the highest number of callers being female.

The highest number of callers were from Maharashtra, followed by Delhi and Uttar Pradesh.

Anxiety and depression were found to be the most commonly noted reasons for seeking counselling.

Since Launch in 2016

Testimonials