AIIMS Introduces AI Mental Health Programme Never Alone

In 2025, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, launched an AI-based mental health project, Never Alone. The programme was introduced on World Suicide Prevention Day and it deals with increased cases of student committed suicide and mental health. It offers 24/7 virtual and offline consultations, with a WhatsApp-readable application, which offers safe and cost-effective mental health screening in the country.

Background

In 2022, there had been more than 1.7 lakh suicides reported in India, the highest in a 50-year period, and 35% among young adults aged 18-30. Suicide is one of the biggest health crises globally with every 45 seconds a person dying as WHO says. The lack of awareness and stigma in India means 70-80 percent of the infected people are still untreated.

Features

The programme provides individualised screening at a very affordable rate of 70 paise per student per day in institutions that have a population of over 5,000 students. It provides safe access through WhatsApp, as well as lifelong care through screening, intervention, and follow-up. It is provided in AIIMS Delhi, and AIIMS Bhubaneswar as well as in IHBAS with expansion in mind.

Implementation

The subscriptions of institutions may be made through contacting AIIMS Delhi. The whole AIIMS campuses will receive free access through the Global Centre of Integrative Health(GCIH) a non-profit organization funded by AIIMS alumnus Dr. Deepak Chopra. GCIH is an organization that tries to encourage integrative health and personal change.

Addressing Stigma

The programme aims at making conversation about mental health normal and less stigmatised and easy to access, making it confidential. It also emphasizes the necessity of increased number of professionals and a public health view of suicide prevention, which is focused on social and economic stressors.

Significance

The programme is targeted to college and university students and is based on digital tools and AI to intervene and support them in a timely manner. Its affordable business model will have the potential of changing the way mental health services are accessible to the youth of India.