This Mental Health Awareness Month, FRND Highlights How Simple Conversations Can Help Young Indians Feel Less Alone

Bengaluru, May 19, 2026: Loneliness is no longer just a personal challenge — it is now recognised as a growing public health crisis. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), one in four people globally are affected by loneliness. In India, the situation is even more pressing, with over 200 million people living with mental health conditions, while conversations around emotional wellbeing continue to remain limited, particularly in Tier 2–4 towns where access to mental health support is scarce and stigma around vulnerability still exists.

This Mental Health Awareness Month, FRND — India’s avatar-based audio social discovery platform and the flagship product of Interact Group — has unveiled its latest campaign, ‘FRND Hai’, focused on creating awareness around the emotional struggles faced by young Indians and the importance of meaningful conversations in reducing loneliness, social anxiety, and everyday microstress.

‘FRND Hai’: A Reminder That Someone Is Always There to Talk To

Inspired by this year’s Mental Health Awareness Month theme, “More Good Days, Together,” the campaign is built around a simple yet powerful idea: sometimes all people really need is someone who will listen.

Through relatable and emotionally resonant “FRND Hai when…” moments, the campaign showcases how one honest conversation can positively shift someone’s emotional state — whether after a difficult day, a sleepless night, or moments of self-doubt and isolation.

To watch the campaign film, please visit:

Building Safe, Authentic Connections Beyond Social Media Validation

With nearly a million conversations taking place on the platform and users spending an average of over 30 minutes daily on FRND, the platform’s voice-first and avatar-based approach enables users to connect authentically without the pressures of appearance, social status, or curated online identities.

Designed primarily for users from India’s heartland, FRND fosters genuine interactions through conversations rather than profiles. To ensure a safe and respectful environment, the platform is supported by a 100-member moderation team alongside real-time AI-powered safety systems.

“Mental Health Is the Defining Wellbeing Challenge of Our Generation”

Commenting on the campaign, Bhanu Pratap Singh Tanwar said:

“Mental health is not an urban luxury — it is the defining wellbeing challenge of our generation. Yet for millions of young Indians, the first barrier is not access to resources, but simply having someone to talk to.

Through ‘FRND Hai’, we want to remind young India that no concern is ever too small to share. Sometimes, opening up for just one conversation can make a person feel lighter and less alone.

Whether someone is struggling after a difficult moment, dealing with stress, or simply looking for a non-judgmental listener, FRND ensures there is always someone available to talk to. For fun banter, friendly advice, or meaningful human connection — FRND Hai.”

A User Story That Reflects the Campaign’s Core Message

Sharing her experience, Maheshwari, a 35-year-old FRND user from Chennai, said:

“After my divorce, I was dealing with extreme loneliness, stress, and sleepless nights. Even though I was active on social media, I realised that followers and likes did not necessarily mean having someone to truly talk to.

When a friend introduced me to FRND, things began to change. For the first time, I found a space where I could express myself freely without fear of judgement — where I could simply talk, be heard, and feel valued.

FRND did not just help me cope emotionally; it helped me rediscover my confidence and voice. Today, I feel stronger, more connected, and emotionally healthier than I ever did while endlessly scrolling through social media. Sometimes, healing really begins with one honest conversation.”

Redefining the Future of Digital Communities in India

As digital communities continue to grow rapidly across Tier 2, 3, and 4 towns, the ‘FRND Hai’ campaign highlights a larger cultural shift: the future success of digital platforms will increasingly be measured not just by engagement numbers, but by their ability to help people feel genuinely connected and emotionally supported.

About FRND

Founded in 2019 by Bhanu Pratap Singh Tanwar and Harshvardhan Chhangani, FRND is India’s first avatar-based audio social discovery platform designed to enable empathetic social connections for users in Tier 2–4 towns and villages.

Built for users aged 18–35, FRND operates across ten Indic languages and offers a range of innovative social interaction features. FRND is the flagship product of Interact Group, which is building a next-generation interaction entertainment ecosystem spanning social discovery, voice experiences, social gaming, and AI-powered engagement for India’s next billion internet users.