Rigid gender norms lead to depression and helplessness, particularly among men, expected to be primary breadwinners.
Published Jun 12, 2025 | 12:14 PM ⚊ Updated Jun 12, 2025 | 12:14 PM
In Kerala, 80 percent of those who had died by suicide were men.
Synopsis: Despite making giant strides in several fields, Kerala is seeing an increase in adult suicides. The spike in people taking the extreme step points to a lack of social bonding and community support that often makes individuals feel too alone in a crowded world.
Subin and Saradha are living victims of suicide.
Thrissur-native Subin lost his uncle — the younger man fondly called him Pappan — after the latter ingested poison. He was an alcoholic who had spent his life savings on drinks.
Subin’s elder cousin, too, has now hit the bottle. Coupled with an alcoholic tendency and a history of suicide, Subin said his family’s reputation has been tarnished.
Saradha’s case was different. “My daughter ended her life in 2020, and my sister followed in 2024,” the Kozhikode woman said.
She revealed that her daughter had been a victim of sexual molestation by a close relative, which left the girl devastated.
“The first incident occurred when my daughter was in the fifth standard, and it was repeated when she was in the tenth,” Saradha explained. “We were shattered when we found out, as the perpetrator was a close relative. Although we decided to take legal recourse, we faced strong resistance from our family members.”
Saradha described how her daughter struggled with mental trauma. Despite their efforts to console her and provide counselling, the girl ultimately took her life, naming those responsible for her suffering in her final moments.
“This sent our family into a state of shock and grief,” Saradha said. “Then, just a few years later, my sister committed suicide after two theft attempts at her house. She had been struggling with her mental health after my daughter’s death.”
Saradha’s voice broke as she spoke about the aftermath of her sister’s suicide.
“After losing my sister, we were left reeling. We’re still struggling to come to terms with our loss and find a way to move forward,” she said.
Kerala recorded a 27 percent increase in adult suicides in 10 years between 2013 and 2023, raising questions on social support to individuals in a state that takes pride in the several firsts it has achieved.
According to the State Crime Records Bureau (SCRB) statistics, 8,648 adults died by suicide in 2013, which increased to 10,972 in 2023. The figures do not reflect a healthy trend since among one lakh adult population, 24.6 percent took the extreme step in 2013, which went up to 30.9 percent 10 years later.
The SCRB statistics also pointed at another reality. More men ended their lives than women: 80 percent of those who had died by suicide were men.
Dr PN Suresh Kumar, Founder-Director of Thanal Suicide Prevention Centre in Kozhikode, said 57 percent of suicide cases in Kerala involved those aged above 45.
“Physical and mental illnesses, isolation and economic crisis may be leading these people to suicide. Among the deceased, 77 percent of the people ended their lives due to family problems. Among those married people who ended their lives, a majority were women,” Dr Kumar, also the Convener of the IMA Kerala State Committee for Emotional Well-being and Suicide Prevention, said.
In 2022, the national suicide rate in India was 12.4 percent among one lakh population. Kerala’s rate of 30.9 percentage among one lakh population was higher than that of the national average.
Studies have found that for each suicide reported, another 20 attempts might have been made.
In 2023, Thiruvananthapuram reported the highest number of suicides: 48 per one lakh population. Idukki district came second with 47 out of one lakh of its population.
Kollam, neighbouring Thiruvananthapuram, reported 45 suicides per lakh population, and Wayanad stood fourth with 41. Malappuram reported the least number of suicides, with 11 percent of the one lakh population.
Dr V Satheesh, Professor and Head of the Department of Psychiatry at Mount Zion Medical College, Adoor in Pathanamthitta district, said the primary factors that led people to suicide were alcoholism and marital issues, including mutual suspicion, domestic violence, financial debt, and other related problems.
“Although women attempt suicide, it is predominantly men who lose their lives due to the definitive methods employed, such as hanging, consuming pesticides, and jumping from heights,” Dr Satheesh explained. “In contrast, women mostly attempt suicide by overdosing on medication.”
Dr Satheesh, who pioneered the first suicide prevention clinic at Kottayam Medical College Hospital in 2003, stressed the importance of accepting failures in life rather than perpetually striving for success.
To prevent suicides, he advocated the early detection of individuals prone to ending their lives. He also underscored the need to reinvent community life and foster social integration as a vital safeguard against suicide.
“In the absence of healthy social relationships, people are becoming increasingly isolated, exacerbated by the pervasive influence of technology,” Dr Satheesh observed. “The shift from extended family setups to nuclear families has accelerated the compartmentalisation of individuals, leading to seclusion.”
He underscored the importance of breaking isolation through social integration and healthy community relationships. By doing so, individuals could develop a stronger support network, mitigating the risk of suicide.
Dr Vinod Kumar PN, a social science researcher and a police officer, attributed suicides among ordinary people to four factors mentioned in the Social Bonding Theory. He analysed the Strain Theory, noting that the strength individuals should gain through social bonding was lacking in Kerala.
Explaining, Kumar said the first reason for the lack of social bonding was decreasing family time, primarily due to the proliferation of the internet. The second reason, he said, was the pursuit of higher education.
He pointed out that education was often being pursued without a clear goal, and courses chosen based on advertisements resulted in many individuals ending up in jobs unrelated to their field of study.
Kumar further explained that according to the Social Disorganisation Theory, varying lifestyles at different levels and attempts to change them lead to economic, social, and personal problems that could drive individuals to suicide.
He also mentioned that the Strain Theory suggested that mental distress and the inability to cope with it could lead to suicidal tendencies. Additionally, Kumar cited research reports indicating that individuals with a family history of suicide were more likely to have suicidal tendencies.
The researcher attributed the primary cause of suicide in Kerala to a lack of social bonding, essential for coping with personal problems. He noted that the failure of social bonding was evident in the increasing number of suicides.
Furthermore, Kumar stated that suicide statistics in Kerala were higher due to the accurate registration of cases by the police, whereas in other states, several instances might have gone unregistered.
Kumar emphasised as essential addressing the root causes of suicide, including lack of social bonding, personal problems, and failure of social remedies. He advocated promoting moral science education in temples, churches, and madrasas to help individuals develop a positive mindset and cope with personal problems.
Prakash Narayanan, Professor of the Department of Global Public Health Policy & Governance, Prasanna School of Public Health, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, attributed the increase in suicide cases in Kerala to various factors, including improved data quality, increased reporting, and an actual rise in suicide cases compared to other states.
He cited several socioeconomic and demographic drivers contributing to this trend, such as:
Narayanan asserted that Kerala’s social and political fabric often failed to support individuals who had attempted suicide, exacerbating the issue. He noted that rigid gender norms could lead to depression and helplessness, particularly among men, expected to be primary breadwinners, while women are confined to homemaking roles.
He identified specific challenges facing different age groups:
Narayanan highlighted regional variations within Kerala, noting that individuals in urban areas tended to have smaller social circles and were more prone to comparing themselves to others.
In contrast, he observed that people from rural districts often have stronger social bonds, fostered through joint family systems, social gatherings, and community interactions.
Professor Narayanan stressed that suicidal ideation is often triggered by immediate provocations from one’s social network and easy access to harmful substances. He advocated proactive support systems, including family members and social influencers, to reduce access to harmful materials and provide timely interventions.
Dr Saleem Pallisserikuzhiyil, a Psychiatrist with the Centre for Harmonious Living, a de-addiction centre based at Kuttipuram in Palakkad, termed suicide prevention an integral part of any mental health treatment, including de-addiction.
“Substance use is a risk factor for suicide. Along with any other mental health disorder (depression, mania, psychosis, personality disorder, anxiety, suicidal tendencies in past), substance use increases the risk multiple times,” he said.
“Family history of suicide, media reports not adhering to standards prescribed by the Press Council of India, all increase suicide behaviour in the community. Family history and the individual’s history of suicide, or self-harm, depressive disorder, dysthymia, hopelessness, impulsivity and aggression make people more vulnerable to suicide,” he added.
Dr Lakshmi Vijayakumar, Consultant Psychiatrist and Founder of SNEHA, a suicide prevention organisation, noted an increase in suicides in post-Covid-19 India.
The primary reasons for suicides in Kerala were undiagnosed and untreated mental diseases, as well as alcohol and substance abuse, Dr Vijayakumar, also a Consultant for the World Health Organisation, said.
She identified specific factors contributing to suicides among men. They included family problems, unemployment, debt, and poverty. Among women, she cited illegitimate pregnancy, love failures, and extramarital affairs as common factors.
Dr Vijayakumar emphasised that a significant number of victims were married women. They were often single parents and victims of suspicion in cases of husbands working away from home.
To improve mental health services, she recommended training general practitioners to treat depression. She stressed that individuals who had attempted suicide were at a high risk of attempting it again, and they required regular follow-up for at least a year.
Dr Vijayakumar advocated for community leaders, such as teachers and ASHAs, to be trained to identify individuals with suicidal tendencies. The leaders should be equipped to provide immediate psychological first aid and must refer individuals to mental health professionals.
She also called for policy changes, including banning pesticides, limiting alcohol availability and consumption, and ensuring basic economic sustenance for the poor. She recommended providing subsidies to widows and single mothers.
Role of NGOs
Litto Palathinkal, a Trustee of Maithri, an NGO specialising in suicide prevention, said suicidal thoughts were not uncommon, but certain factors could discourage people from taking drastic measures.
“Primarily, it is family relationships that play a crucial role,” he said. “When relationships strain and individuals feel isolated and lonely, the likelihood of suicide attempts increases.”
Palathinkal stressed that families have the primary solutions to prevent suicides. However, if the family fails to provide support, society should offer a platform for individuals to express their feelings.
“Maithri provides that listening ear,” he said.
Since 1995, Maithri has been helping people who are lonely, distressed, and have suicidal tendencies.
Recently, the organisation conducted an adolescent-oriented, school-based programme called “Mind Our Mind” (MoM). It aimed to build mental health capacity, create awareness about mental health laws, and address stigma associated with seeking mental health support.
Palathinkal explained that the programme, attended by higher secondary school students in Ernakulam district, covered various topics, including psychiatric disorders, life skills, digital culture, and mental health first-aid. A short film targeted at teenagers was also screened, focusing on suicide prevention.
Additionally, the programme included sessions on legal literacy, with a special focus on mental health and disability. The social welfare department’s measures for children were also introduced, with support from the Ernakulam District Legal Service Authority.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
