India’s Toxic Work Culture Is Pushing Young Professionals to Suicide

Work Pressure Is Killing India’s Youth — The Invisible Corporate Mental Health Crisis

They weren’t terminally ill. Nor did they meet with an accident. There wasn’t a loud warning or a dramatic outburst; just silence. The kind which festers inside when exhaustion becomes identity. One moment they worked through the exhaustion gripping their bones and the next, they were gone.

From a 24-year-old adjusting to his first job to a 26-year-old battling panic attacks while maintaining smile for corporate. India’s corporate world isn’t just failing its workers — it’s killing them. Slowly. Quietly. Invisibly.

Welcome to the corporate world. In this realm, your mental health is invisible. Your exhaustion is expected. Your collapse is just another line in a quarterly report.

According to the World Health Organization, more than 720,000 people die by suicide each year globally. This makes it one of the leading causes of death. Among people aged 15 to 29, suicide is now the third leading cause of death. In India, the tragedy runs deeper—because the signs are often buried under silence, deadlines, and stigma.

When work turned deadly for these Indian youths

Nikhil Somwanshi (Age 25) – Crushed by Code and Silence at Ola Krutrim

Nikhil Somwanshi was just 25. He was a brilliant fresher from IISc. He joined Ola’s AI arm Krutrim with dreams in his eyes. But just ten months into the job, those dreams were crushed. According to a colleague’s viral Reddit post, Nikhil was overburdened after two teammates resigned. The entire workload fell on him. The manager was allegedly “traumatic to work with.”

Nikhil went on leave in April 2025. His message: “I need time. I’m not able to think clearly anymore.” He tried returning but said he wasn’t ready. On May 8, he was found dead in Agara Lake. No note. Just the silence of a young life lost.

“He once told me, ‘I’m scared that if I stop working, I’ll disappear.’ In the end… he did.” — Nikhil’s roommate

Krutrim issued condolences. But they came too late. Nikhil didn’t need words after death. He needed care while alive.

Anna Sebastian Perayil (Age 26) – A Daughter Broken by Deadlines at EY

Anna was 26, a CA topper, and a fighter. She joined EY Pune in March 2024, full of dreams. But within four months, she was gone.

Her mother’s letter shook the nation. “She worked nights, weekends, with no rest. Her manager said, ‘Everyone does this. Get used to it.’ Even on the day of her CA convocation, she worked until noon. She paid for our flight. But she couldn’t enjoy a moment.”

On July 20, Anna passed away. Alone. Exhausted. Forgotten.

“I carried her for nine months, raised her for 26 years… and you broke her in four.” — Anna’s mother

EY said they were “deeply saddened.” But no one from the firm came to Anna’s funeral.

Tarun Saxena (Age 42) – Targeted, Tortured, and Silenced at Bajaj Finance

Tarun was a father of two, an Area Manager at Bajaj Finance. For months, he faced humiliation and threats over EMI recovery targets. He was made to pay from his salary for unrecovered amounts.

On May 27, after a harsh 6 a.m. video call, Tarun locked his wife and children in a room… and ended his life. His five-page suicide note read:

“I haven’t slept in 45 days. I’ve lost the ability to think. I’m going.”

He named his seniors. He apologized to his family. “Please build the second floor for Megha and the kids. Make sure they get the insurance.”

Tarun didn’t fail. The system failed him.

P. Raghuram (Age 35) – Battling Bipolar, Beaten by the System at Infosys

Raghuram had bipolar disorder — and strength. He was a team leader at Infosys, father to a six-year-old daughter. He fought the illness for 13 years while building a career. But the pressure didn’t stop.

On Sunday night, he told his wife, “I want to end this. I’m tired.” On Monday, after arriving at work, he stepped away for “tea.” An hour later, he jumped from a nearby building.

“He carried pain no appraisal or HR wellness talk could fix.” — A colleague

He left no note. Just a silence that screamed louder than any resignation letter.

Rohit Gohil (Age 26) – A Contract Worker’s Final Plea for Dignity

Rohit was a peon. But he carried the dignity of a warrior. For six years, he worked at the Regional Health Office — unpaid for months, doing extra hours, enduring abuse.

Before ending his life in his office on May 15, he recorded a 6-minute video:

“I did everything they asked. Still, they insulted me. He made me clean trash under furniture. He humiliated me over tea money. I want justice for my parents.”

He named his supervisor. Police later filed charges under the SC/ST Act.

The boy who cleaned others’ mess for six years — died unheard. Until his final 6 minutes woke the country.

These are not isolated tragedies. The numbers tell a grim story. In 2022 alone, India recorded over 171,000 suicides — a 4.2% rise from the prior year, and a staggering 27% jump since 2018. Most of these deaths occurred among people aged 15–39, the very youth that fuels our workforce. A Gallup 2024 survey revealed that only 14% of Indian employees feel they’re thriving. The rest are struggling or suffering. They do so silently.

“Even the Supreme Court Is Resetting Its Work Culture — Why Not Corporate?”

In July 2025, the Supreme Court of India took a bold administrative step to handle efficiency and workload. It restored the 2nd and 4th Saturdays as working days for its registry offices. It also tightened daily schedules. No fresh work is accepted after 4:30 PM unless marked urgent. Even during summer vacations, partial working hours were enforced to keep workflow. The highest court in the land acknowledges the need for structured and sustainable working hours. Why can private companies impose endless deadlines? Why is there no protection for employees’ mental health?

Employee Protection & Mental Health Laws in India

Know Your Rights: Key Indian Labor Laws in One Line Each

Factories Act, 1948 – Limits factory workers to 48 hours/week, mandates safety and health standards.

Shops and Establishments Acts – Governs working hours, leave, and employee welfare in private offices.

Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 – Protects employees against wrongful termination and allows dispute redressal.

Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 – Grants the right to mental healthcare, but lacks workplace-specific mandates.

POSH Act, 2013 – Requires anti-sexual harassment mechanisms at all workplaces.

Code on Wages, 2019 – Ensures fair and prompt basic wage and pay parity.

Occupational Safety Code, 2020 – Mandates safe and humane working conditions for establishments.

Maternity Advantage Act, 2017 – Offers 26 weeks of paid leave and job protection.

ESI Act, 1948 – Provides insured employees with medical and accident benefits.

EPF Act, 1952 – Ensures savings and pension security through employer contributions.

Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972 – Grants one-time financial advantage to employees post five years of service.

Bonus Act, 1965 – Entitles certain employees to an annual profit-linked bonus.

Equal Compensation Act, 1976 – Prohibits pay discrimination on the basis of gender.

Contract Labour Act, 1970 – Regulates and protects rights of contract workers.

Mental Harassment at Work Is Not a Crime — But It’s Killing People

A 2025 report by Plum Health highlights a worsening crisis. 1 in every 5 Indian employees is actively seeking mental health support. Nearly 20% are considering quitting due to chronic burnout. These aren’t just statistics. They’re red flags waving in every office corridor. They are in every late-night email and every ignored cry for help.

India has no law that defines or criminalizes mental harassment at the workplace.

No legal limit to how many hours a person can be pushed to work.
No recognition of overwork as a workplace hazard.
No obligation to protect employees’ mental well-being.
No punishment when burnout leads to death.

Even when victims leave behind notes naming managers, companies escape accountability.

Silence is legal. Pressure is policy. Suffering is invisible.

Corporate Deaths, PR Statements, and the Absence of Justice

Every suicide letter screams the same message: “I tried. But no one cared.”

In return, companies send HR emails. PR condolences. Nothing changes. Because there’s no law to make them change.

We have regulations for fire drills, maternity leave, lowest wage — but nothing that says overwork can kill.

India Needs Mental Health Protection in Labour Laws

India’s brightest minds are dying quietly behind corporate glass walls. Their names change, their pain doesn’t. And as long as mental harassment goes unpunished, companies won’t stop.

Mental health must stop being a banner. It must become a law. Because if justice never enters the boardroom, it will always be written in suicide notes.

“Make sure they get my insurance money.”
“Tell them I tried.”
“I just wanted to prove myself.”

These aren’t just last words. They’re unfinished lives.

Sources & References:

Public Letters from Families – Especially Anna Sebastian’s mother’s letter.
[Example letter: Indian Express / Twitter screenshots]

NDTV – Coverage on Nikhil Somwanshi case and workplace mental health trends.

The News Minute – Reported on Anna Sebastian and burnout culture in Indian firms.

India Today – National data on suicides, corporate deaths, and mental health stats.

The Hindu – Context on legal gaps and mental health policy coverage.

Indian Express – Covered emotional letters, SC/ST Act cases like Rohit Gohil’s.

Times of India – Reports on burnout trends, workplace suicides, and Supreme Court reforms.

Scroll.in – In-depth features on silent mental health crises and systemic failures.

Reddit (Viral Posts) – Nikhil Somwanshi case shared by colleague (verified viral thread).

PTI Statements – Official company responses on suicide cases and policy reactions.