Mpower, an initiative of the Aditya Birla Education Trust, has released a consolidated analysis of five years of data from its helpline, clinical services and youth outreach programmes, revealing a steady rise in mental health challenges among Indian men—particularly younger and working-age groups.
According to the report, Mpower engaged with an estimated 2.83 lakh men across its service channels during the review period. Young men aged 18–25 years formed the largest segment, with youth-focused programmes alone reaching 2,07,350 beneficiaries through screenings, early intervention efforts, campus initiatives and community outreach. The organisation noted that the data reflects both heightened vulnerability among young men and greater willingness to discuss mental health when support is accessible in educational and community settings.
For men aged 26–40 years, help-seeking behaviour was most evident on the Mpower 1on1 24×7 helpline, which received 75,702 male callers between 2022 and 2025. Relationship concerns, depression and stress accounted for 16,698 calls, underscoring the emotional strain faced by working-age men. Notably, 40% of male callers reported lower stress levels by the end of the call, highlighting the impact of timely, empathetic intervention. Many callers preferred anonymity, indicating continued stigma around approaching in-person services.
Urban and semi-urban regions demonstrated strong engagement. Pune recorded 1,13,435 young male beneficiaries, while Mumbai engaged 53,657 through clinical services and outreach. Rajasthan, Delhi, Bengaluru, Goa and Hyderabad collectively contributed an additional 40,000+ young male engagements, signalling the nationwide scale of mental health needs.
Across interactions, the most common mental health issues reported were stress, burnout, depression, anxiety, relationship problems, academic pressure, family conflict, low self-esteem, loneliness and financial stress. Many men described coping by suppressing emotions, withdrawing socially, overworking or using substances—patterns that Mpower attributes to cultural expectations discouraging men from expressing distress.
Commenting on the findings, Parveen Shaikh, President, Mpower, said:
“Men continue to shoulder an enormous emotional burden, often silently. Our data shows that when men do reach out, the relief is immediate and meaningful. We increasingly see young men turning to gaming to cope with stress, which may offer short-term distraction but can spiral into unhealthy patterns if left unaddressed. Seeking help is not a weakness—it is a strength.”
As part of its continued efforts, Mpower is strengthening mental health support for men through clinical care, multilingual helplines, school and university programmes, community initiatives and capacity-building workshops across India. Individuals seeking immediate and confidential assistance can reach Mpower’s 24×7 toll-free helpline at 1800-120-820050.
