For the first time in years, men have overtaken women in the number of suicides linked to marriage-related issues in India, signalling a significant shift in the nation’s social and mental health dynamics, according to the latest National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data.

The NCRB’s 2023 report revealed that 4,863 men died by suicide due to marital distress, compared to 4,180 women—marking the first time that male suicides have outnumbered female cases in this category. In 2022, the figures stood at 4,237 men and 3,926 women.

Just a decade ago, the situation was the reverse. In 2015, about 4,000 women and 2,497 men took their lives over marriage-related issues, reflecting how the trend has sharply reversed over the years.

What qualifies as ‘marriage-related issues’?

The NCRB categorises “marriage-related issues” under suicides caused by:

  • Dowry disputes
  • Non-settlement of marriage
  • Extra-marital affairs
  • Divorce and separation distress
  • Other unspecified marital conflicts

While dowry-related suicides remain higher among women, men now lead in cases linked to divorce, infidelity, and emotional fallout from separation.

Age-wise trends: Men dominate over-30 bracket

Between 2019 and 2023, the data shows a clear demographic split:

  • 10,816 men aged over 30 died by suicide due to marriage-related distress, compared to 6,619 women.
  • In the under-30 category, women continued to outnumber men, with 13,921 women versus 8,983 men dying by suicide during the same period.

Experts say this reflects shifting pressures — with older men facing economic and emotional burdens following marital breakdowns, while younger women remain vulnerable to dowry and domestic violence.

Experts highlight social and emotional stress among men

Psychologists and social researchers attribute the rising male suicide numbers to increased emotional isolation, financial strain, and lack of support structures for men undergoing marital conflict.

They note that public discourse continues to focus primarily on women’s suffering in marriage — particularly from dowry harassment and domestic abuse — while male mental health struggles often go unrecognised or trivialised.

Marriage-related suicides form 5% of all suicides

Marriage-linked deaths made up about 5 per cent of total suicides in 2023, ranking as the fourth leading cause after family problems, illness, and substance abuse.

The total number of such suicides rose from 6,412 in 2015 to 9,043 in 2023, with men driving most of the increase.

This rise points to a broader mental health crisis within Indian households, where emotional distress linked to marital instability affects both genders but manifests differently.

A need for inclusive mental health policies

Experts are calling for gender-neutral counselling services, better access to legal mediation, and public awareness campaigns that address both men’s and women’s vulnerabilities in marriage.

They stress that acknowledging male distress does not diminish women’s suffering, but rather promotes a balanced approach to mental health and relationship support.

(Disclaimer: This article discusses suicide and mental health issues. If you or someone you know is in distress or having thoughts of self-harm, please reach out for help.)