Hyderabad: Financial distress, driven largely by betting addiction and loan-related debt, emerged as a major concern among callers to Hyderabad-based Roshni’s helpline in 2025, with nearly 1,000 calls seeking support over money-related problems.Mental health experts point to a similar pattern: Rising debt, uncertain incomes and gambling-related losses are pushing more people into severe emotional distress, often leading them to seek help through a helpline as a last resort before reaching a point of crisis.These figures were shared by the suicide-prevention NGO on the occasion of National Mental Health Awareness Day on Thursday. The trust received 5,610 calls in all.Calls related to relationship troubles, whether involving parents, partners or colleagues, accounted for 1,733 cases. Financial distress followed with 987 calls, while marital problems accounted for 728, family conflicts for 706 and physical illness for 285. The remaining calls fell under smaller categories such as substance abuse and academic pressure, each numbering in the low hundreds.Young adults made up the largest share of callers by far. Of the total, 2,537 callers were aged between 18 and 30, while another 1,550 were between 31 and 45. Children below 18 accounted for 225 calls.“These young adults come from all kinds of backgrounds. Some are students, some have just started a job, and some are well into their careers,” said Swarna, a volunteer at the NGO. “A lot of our callers are close to taking an extreme step but call us first, and that tells you something: people in distress often need someone to listen, not just a way out.”Men accounted for the overwhelming majority of callers — 4,003 out of 5,610 — compared with 1,497 women and 110 people from other gender categories.Financial distress, counsellors said, rarely occurs in isolation. “Many of the financial distress calls are linked to betting addiction or people struggling with loans. Layoffs and job insecurity also come up frequently,” said Ratna, another volunteer with the NGO.“Inflation and the pressure to maintain a more expensive lifestyle push many people into taking instant loans or investing money in betting apps. The pressure from lenders can become overwhelming. That is what drives some people towards suicidal thoughts,” Ratna told TOI.For callers identified as high risk, Roshni has a follow-up system in place, staying in touch with them and, where needed, their families, to ensure support continues beyond the first call. The helpline currently operates with seventy volunteers taking calls every day.If you are struggling or know someone who is, Roshni can be reached at 040-66661117/1118 and 040-66202001/2000.
