The number of calls to UK mental health charity Mind’s Infoline has almost halved in the last five years, according to new data.
The Infoline, which offers people information and advice on their mental health and the support available, saw a total of 30,718 calls last year, down from 59,516 in 2019.
The biggest decrease was between 2023 and 2024, with the number of calls falling by 30%.
A spokesperson for Mind explained there are a number of reasons for the change in call numbers, one of which is that calls are longer on average than before the pandemic as more people are calling about complex problems.
This led the charity to launch their Supportline in 2023, which focuses more on giving callers emotional support than the information-focused Infoline.
The new Supportline may also be one of the reasons for falling Infoline calls, the spokesperson added, as callers now have a choice on which helpline to contact.
Combined figures from both helplines show the number of calls has remained relatively consistent for the past three years.
Despite fewer people calling Mind’s Infoline each year, it is still a vital resource for people unsure about how or where to get help for their mental health.
At the beginning of 2024, Jaabir Ramlugon, 39, called the Infoline when ruminating on past traumatic events left him struggling to concentrate.
Ramlugon said: “When I was working in technical services about ten years ago in Farringdon, I was constantly degraded by my colleagues, from the work I did, to what I ate or didn’t eat, or what I wore.
“One of the ridiculous things I was teased about was a Velcro wallet – there was a sort of disgust from them that I owned it.”
Around the time Ramlugon called the Infoline, seeing everyday objects like his wallet immediately took him back to the trauma from his old job.
He said: “All the feelings I had at that point were brought back.
“I just thought to myself, why didn’t you stand up for yourself? Why didn’t you?
“Someone could be talking to me, and I couldn’t hear what they were saying because all I could think about was what happened.”
The Infoline volunteer who spoke to Ramlugon advised him on how to get professional help, giving him the confidence to get counselling for Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD).
He said: “It helped to confirm for me that I wasn’t just being dramatic.
“Without the Infoline, I would have just thought my struggles were in my head, and I would have just tried to get on with it.
“But post that call, I have some stability, some balance and enjoyment in my life.
“I have lots of hobbies now, like singing in a choir and learning piano, and I’m able to do all of those things and just enjoy life.”
To encourage others like Ramlugon to reach out for help, Mind run an annual campaign called Time To Talk Day, which is taking place on 6 February this year.
It is a day for friends, families, communities and workplaces to come together to talk, listen and change lives, initiating what Mind hope is the nation’s biggest mental health conversation.
A survey for last year’s campaign revealed that almost half of UK respondents were less likely to talk about their mental health as a result of recent pressures such as the cost of living crisis.
This is despite one in every four adults experiencing at least one diagnosable mental health problem each year.
Mind Helpline Manager Neeleema Boodhram said: “We know talking isn’t the whole solution, but it can help us feel less alone, more able to cope and encouraged to seek support if we need to.
“When you call a Mind helpline, you can expect a listening ear and a conversation without judgement.”
For more information about Mind’s four helplines, visit their website.
