Adults Dialling for Emotional Support on the Rise

Adults aged 18 to 30 accounted for the highest number of callers seeking emotional support in 2025, with mental health concerns emerging as the leading reason, according to data from the Roshini Helpline.

The helpline received 5,610 calls during the year, including 2,537 from those aged 18-30. This was followed by 1,550 callers in the 31-45 age group and 225 below 18 years. Men accounted for 4,003 callers, while 1,497 were women and 110 identified as others.

Volunteers said increased visibility of emotional distress has been accompanied by a tendency to use clinical terms such as depression and schizophrenia without clarity on their meaning.

Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, volunteer Ratna said many callers describe themselves as ‘depressed’ following relationship issues, often triggered by social media.

However, she said emotional distress should not be equated with clinical depression. “People call saying they are depressed because their boyfriend or girlfriend left them or because they saw their ex posting happy pictures online. As listeners, we cannot dismiss their feelings or ask why they still care. Our responsibility is to patiently listen, understand what they are going through and help them navigate their emotions,” she said.

Volunteer Swarna said the helpline receives 20 to 25 calls daily and not all callers are suicidal. “Many people simply need someone who will listen without judging them, and we do both: listen and do not judge. Some conversations last up to three hours. If we feel they require professional care, we refer them to psychologists or psychiatrists while continuing to assess whether they are at immediate risk,” she said.

Ratna said volunteers are trained to identify warning signs, including whether callers have access to means of self-harm. In such cases, volunteers continue engagement until the caller appears calmer, seek assurances against self-harm and conduct follow-up calls.

Volunteers said relationship and marital issues are common, but financial distress leads to more complex conversations due to its links with unemployment, debt and uncertainty. The 18-30 group largely comprised students, fresh graduates and young professionals.

They also recalled two instances where callers later died despite seeking help, with both cases linked to severe psychiatric conditions such as schizophrenia rather than routine emotional distress.

For free confidential emotional support, contact 040 66202000, 04066202001, 8142020033, 8142020044.

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Distress Calls in 2025

Age-wise callers

Top reasons for calls