How to support someone who feels hopeless
Take it seriously, stay with them and help them reach support. If they may be in danger, call Tele-MANAS on 14416 or 112 straight away.
Last updated 2 November 2026
If they may be in danger now
Call 112 or Tele-MANAS on 14416 (free, any hour). Do not leave them alone, and help them reach a doctor or the nearest hospital. Mindly Health is not an emergency service.
How to talk to them
- Find a quiet moment and ask directly how they are.
- Listen without hurrying to fix it or judge it.
- Tell them you are worried and that you are there.
- Ask whether they are thinking about hurting themselves. Asking does not put the idea in their head.
What helps afterwards
- Encourage them to see a doctor, and offer to help book or sit with them.
- Keep in touch over the next days, not just once.
- Look after yourself too, and share the load with others.
Where to get support
See our helplines and resources. You can also book a free pre-consultation call for the person you are worried about.
What to do next
If you think someone is in danger right now, use the helplines and emergency resources. For ways to talk and to help, read talking to family about mental health and how families can support treatment. Mindly sees people online in every Indian city, including Bengaluru, Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai and Hyderabad. See online psychiatrist in India.
How to start
- Call or message us. Reach us on +91 90352 54779 or WhatsApp. Tell us your language and a convenient time.
- Free pre-consultation call. Our team takes your history and prepares a report for your clinician, so you do not repeat yourself.
- Video session. You meet your allotted clinician online, from home or wherever you feel comfortable.
- Your plan. The clinician explains what they find and the next steps. You decide together.
Book your free pre-consultation call
Your privacy and confidentiality. What you share with Mindly Health stays between you and your care team. Your conversations, reports and messages are treated as confidential and shared only with the team members involved in your care, apart from the limited cases where the law requires it or someone's safety is at serious risk. Read our Privacy Policy and your rights under the Mental Healthcare Act.
Common questions
Should I tell someone else?
Yes, if you think they may be in danger. Involve a family member, friend or doctor, and call 112 or Tele-MANAS if the risk is immediate.
Is Mindly Health an emergency service?
No. If someone is in immediate danger, call 112 or go to the nearest hospital. For free support at any hour, call Tele-MANAS on 14416.
Related
- Helplines and resources
- Depression
- Grief and bereavement
- Trouble sleeping: when does it need help?
- Baby blues or postpartum depression?
- Is online psychiatry legal in India?
Sources
Mindly Health is not an emergency service. If someone is in immediate danger, call 112 or go to the nearest hospital. For free support at any hour, call Tele-MANAS on 14416.