Finding a lifeline in simple acts of kindness

From shared cups of tea to WhatsApp group check-ins, it is simple bids for connection that act as unseen safety nets for people in despair

- Divya Naik

On a humid evening in Mumbai, a group of women gather at their neighbourhood chai stall. The conversations drift easily between recipes, school fees, and neighbourhood gossip. To an outsider, it's just another everyday moment in India's teeming cities. But for one woman, who has been silently battling thoughts of giving up on life, that cup of tea and the warmth of familiar chatter act as a lifeline. She may never put it into words, but the casual camaraderie of these interactions keeps her tethered, reminding her that she still belongs.

Across India, countless such small, ordinary gestures such as chai breaks, shared meals, WhatsApp group check-ins, neighbours dropping by, function as quiet safety nets against despair. While therapy and helplines remain critical, experts say suicide prevention in India often begins much earlier, in the unassuming rhythms of daily life. "Small, everyday gestures such as a shared meal, a genuine phone call, or a few minutes of listening remind people that they are seen, valued, and not alone," says Arpita Kohli, psychologist and counsellor at PSRI Hospital, Delhi NCR. These micro-moments, she explains, create safe spaces where individuals feel accepted without judgement.

For Sunitha Ramachandran, co-founder of Ankahee Helpline, Mumbai, the power of small acts is deeply personal. She recalls a moment from decades ago: "I was on a train, upset after a fight with my sister. A young man next to me quietly shared his dinner and spoke to me. That act of empathy stays with me even 28 years later." To her, these everyday acts are like pressure valves, offering temporary reprieve until coping skills can return.