Stigma, Stress, and Silence: 1Life Reveals Alarming Trends Behind Rising Suicide Calls

1Life(1life.org.in), the Hyderabad-based suicide prevention helpline (7893078930), has released new data offering a stark glimpse into the rising distress and mental health challenges faced by people from across India. The findings reveal that most callers struggle with acute emotional, financial, and social stress, often leaving them vulnerable to suicidal thoughts.

Each year the 1Life helpline receives an average of 23000 calls, and the counsellors at 1Life have analysed these calls to highlight the growing mental health burden in society. What stands out is the breadth of these struggles, ranging from deeply personal breakdowns to systemic issues that compound hopelessness. Each call reflects a person in crisis, reaching out not as a number in statistics, but as a human being desperately seeking understanding, empathy, and support.

The data also highlights how stigma and silence continue to prevent open discussions around mental health. In many households, individuals are discouraged from expressing their struggles, either out of fear of judgment or due to long-held cultural taboos. This lack of safe spaces for emotional expression often worsens the crisis, leaving people feeling even more isolated. By capturing these trends, 1Life hopes to not only inform society but also spark urgent conversations on the importance of compassion, timely intervention, and policy-level action.

According to 1Life, the most pressing triggers for high-risk calls include:

Relationship issues (30% approx): Emotional breakdowns from conflicts, breakups, or marital stress are among the most common causes of suicidal thoughts. Many callers describe feeling abandoned, unheard, and convinced that suicide is the only escape from unrelenting emotional pain. These cases often reflect the lack of healthy communication within families and the absence of emotional resilience training from an early age. Counsellors note that even individuals who appear socially active or successful may be silently battling deep turmoil in their personal relationships.

Debt / financial problems (25% approx): Unemployment, mounting debt, money lost in betting apps, unreturned personal loans, and cases of financial fraud drive many into despair. The stigma of financial failure, compounded by pressure from lenders and family, leaves individuals feeling cornered and hopeless. For many, the inability to provide for their families, leads to feelings of shame and inadequacy that spiral into hopelessness. Financial literacy and community support mechanisms remain weak, leaving vulnerable individuals with few safe outlets for relief.

Academic / professional stress (22% approx): Students and young professionals frequently report overwhelming pressure from exams, career uncertainties, and toxic workplace environments. The fear of failure and not meeting expectations often spirals into self-doubt, anxiety, and suicidal ideation. The culture of comparison, within families and these days on social media platforms, intensifies these struggles by making individuals feel they are constantly falling short. Without access to mentors or supportive professional environments, many begin to see their situation as a dead end.

Mental health struggles (10% approx): Loneliness, anxiety, depression, and feelings of worthlessness are recurrent themes among callers. Without access to adequate family or community support, many suffer silently, believing their pain is invisible or invalid. Some callers express that they have attempted to seek help before but were dismissed or ridiculed, deepening their isolation. The lack of affordable, accessible mental health services further worsens their chances of receiving timely intervention.

Social stigma (12% approx): Marginalized groups, including members of the LGBTQ communities, and individuals forced into unwanted marriages, often report feeling excluded, judged, or forced to live identities they do not accept. This constant burden exacerbates their vulnerability to suicidal thoughts. In several cases, rejection from family and society strips individuals of the very support systems they need most. The struggle to assert their identity while enduring ridicule creates a cycle of emotional pain that feels impossible to escape.

Maybe small in numbers, but some callers engage in abusive or inappropriate behavior, placing additional strain on counsellors and diverting critical resources from those in genuine crisis. Such actions not only undermine the seriousness of the helpline but also risk discouraging frontline counsellors who dedicate themselves to saving lives. These misuse cases, though not widespread, highlight the need for greater awareness about respecting mental health services. 1Life emphasizes that every minute wasted on a prank call could mean a missed opportunity to save someone’s life.

Commenting on the findings, Ms. Rebecca, Consultant Psychologist, 1Life Suicide Prevention Helpline, said, “ _Behind every call is a human being fighting unbearable pain, fear, or loneliness. What we repeatedly see is that people don’t truly want to die, but want their suffering to end. By listening without judgment and offering hope, we can help them rediscover reasons to live. As a society, we must normalize conversations about mental health, reduce stigma, and extend unconditional support."

1Life continues to urge individuals in distress to seek help rather than suffer in silence. The organization emphasizes that timely counselling can transform moments of despair into opportunities for healing and hope. It further appeals to policymakers, educators, employers, and community leaders to take proactive steps in building systems of care that prioritize emotional well-being. Suicide prevention, as 1Life stresses, cannot be the responsibility of helplines alone; it must become a shared mission of families, workplaces, and the larger society.

About 1life:

*1life has 120 dedicated volunteers, of whom more than 75% are women from diverse backgrounds

*_1Life operates in over 15 Indian languages, including Telugu, Hindi, and English.

*_1Life has handled more than 1.5 lakh calls in last 10 years.

Live Love Laugh Foundation, established by actress Deepika Padukone recognises 1Life as a credible organisation providing mental health information.