Principal scientific advisor launches mobile app to augment mental wellbeing

The app, MANAS, which stands for Mental Health and Normalcy Augmentation System, is a comprehensive, scalable, and national digital wellbeing platform, it said. The app has been developed to augment the mental wellbeing of Indian citizens, according to the principal scientific advisor's office.

MANAS integrates the health and wellness efforts of various government ministries, scientifically validated indigenous tools with gamified interfaces developed and researched by various national bodies and research institutions.

''MANAS was initiated by the Office of the Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India. It was jointly executed by NIMHANS Bengaluru, AFMC (Armed Forces Medical College), Pune and C-DAC (Centre for Development of Advanced Computing) Bengaluru,'' VijayRaghavan's office said.

While launching MANAS, VijayRaghavan said, ''The app must be integrated with public health schemes like National Health Mission, Poshan Abhiyan, e-Sanjeevani and others so that it is used widely. Besides, the application must be made multilingual.'' Lieutenant General Madhuri Kanitkar, member of PM-STIAC (Prime Minister's Science, Technology, and Innovation Advisory Council), highlighted that MANAS is based on life skills and core psychological process.

The initial version of MANAS focuses on promoting positive mental health in the age group of 15-35, she said.