Hyderabad: None of those dialling the suicide-prevention helpline, 1Life, in moments of distress know that the woman often answering their calls has been unable to walk for almost 10 years. Yet 55-year-old Lakshmi Narasamma Vankayapati continues to fight every day, unwilling to lose her battle with rheumatoid arthritis — an illness she has lived with since she was 20.And despite becoming completely immobile over time and battling depression herself, Lakshmi now listens to every caller with patience and compassion, never telling anyone that their problem is too small to matter.Not surprisingly, the theme of World Suicide Prevention Day this year — “Changing the Narrative on Suicide” — and its call to “Start the Conversation” have a deeply personal resonance for Lakshmi. She recalls how her own journey into counselling began when she was almost giving up on life. In 2024, a conversation with her neighbour Radhika in Madhira led her to 1Life.It was a particularly difficult phase for Lakshmi. After Covid, her health had deteriorated and she was forced to resume medication. Educated up to intermediate, she later underwent training to become a volunteer counsellor and began attending calls early last year. Since then, she has helped callers navigate a range of problems — from family conflicts and relationship troubles to financial crises and other setbacks.Over the past one-and-a-half years, she has fielded at least 300 calls, but two have stayed with her.In one case, a young man who had recently completed his studies was struggling to find a job. He was in love with a girl but had slipped into depression after his parents became upset with him. He was also hurt that they appeared to favour his brother, who had found employment.Lakshmi explained to him that his parents’ expectations were basic: they wanted him to find a job and settle down. Not having achieved those things yet did not mean he had failed in life. Her conversation, she believes, helped the caller feel less defeated and choose to give life another chance.Another caller felt worthless after a business failure and believed his family neither cared for nor respected him. Lakshmi advised him to start small, take up a job and consider starting a small business again, rather than allowing the setback to define his life.Apart from helping callers cope with life, Lakshmi says these conversations also give her the strength to deal with her own challenges.“When I hear about the problems others are facing, my own problems seem very small,” she told TOI. “People keep thinking about a problem until it becomes everything in their life. Our job is to put brakes on that.”Counselling others, she says, has also helped her understand how meaningful life is. “Resilience is the key in life. Every problem can be resolved,” said Lakshmi, who has herself lived through severe financial difficulties and periods of resentment towards life when she could no longer do things on her own.Today, despite everything she has endured, Lakshmi says she is grateful for the experiences and people in her life — including her agriculturalist husband and children, who have stood by her throughout her journey.
