MARRIED MEN MORE PRONE TO SUICIDE

The suicide rate amongst married men is three times higher than that of married women in Telangana state. Data from the National Crime Records Bureau has revealed that over 5,700 married men committed suicide in the state in 2015. In the same period, 1,900 married women ended their lives.

Experts said social and economic pressures have been two of the major reasons behind the increasing number of male suicides.

Most of the men belonged to middle, and upper-middle class. Marital disputes, career problems, and financial issues are also some of the reasons behind the suicides. Data also revealed that men aged between 30 and 44 were more prone to suicides and that only 940 unmarried men had taken their own lives in Telangana in 2015.

Psychiatrist Ms. Purnima Nagaraja says marital breakdowns and the resulting depressive behaviour have claimed several lives within the middle-class. “It's because of a lack of mental intimacy between marital partners men are severely stressed out. It happens due to pressure at work and odd working hours. And in cases where both husband and wife are working, differences in shift timings mean they don't even have time for each other,” she said.

Experts have also blamed the suicides on uncontrolled ambition and failure. They said men aged between 27 to 45 are usually extremely ambitious and see to amass wealth. When they fail, not many are able to handle the social pressures, the experts said.