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Maharashtra's Youth Lead Digital Mental Health Surge
17 Dec, 2025
Summary
- Young Indians aged 12-25 are largest users of digital mental health services.
- Maharashtra leads India with 14% of users on suicide-prevention chat service.
- Emotional distress is the most common issue reported by young callers.
Young individuals in Maharashtra are leading the nation in utilizing digital mental health services, indicating a rise in emotional distress and concerns about academic pressure and suicides. Data from TISS's iCALL helpline shows that the 12-25 age group represents the largest segment seeking support, with Maharashtra contributing 14% of users to its suicide-prevention chat service, ReYou.
Launched in March 2023, ReYou has managed over 10,300 chat sessions, with a significant 21.5% of these being crisis-related, including suicidal ideation. Similarly, the CHAMPS toll-free helpline, operational since 2023, received substantial calls from the 12-25 age bracket, with emotional distress being the primary concern across both platforms.
Experts attribute this surge in help-seeking to increased access and awareness, amplified by social media outreach. While ReYou primarily serves English-speaking urban youth, the multilingual CHAMPS helpline extends its reach to diverse populations, including those in tier-2 and tier-3 regions, underscoring the growing need for accessible mental health support for young people.
