Married Women and Housewives Account for Majority of Female Suicides in Delhi, Report Finds
A recent report from the Delhi government has revealed a concerning pattern in the city's suicide statistics. According to the data, married women constituted more than half of all female suicide cases recorded in the national capital during 2023. Specifically, out of the 836 female suicide deaths documented last year, a staggering 455 victims were married women, representing 54.43% of the total.
Housewives Represent Over 40% of Female Suicide Victims
The report further highlights that housewives made up a significant portion of these tragic incidents. In 2023, housewives accounted for 369 of the female suicide deaths, which translates to 44.13% of all cases among women. This data underscores the vulnerability of women in domestic roles within the urban landscape of Delhi.
Consistent Trend Over Five Years, Including Pandemic Period
This alarming trend is not an isolated occurrence but has remained remarkably consistent over the past five years, even during the challenging pandemic era. The years 2020 to 2022, marked by mobility restrictions, economic distress, and prolonged confinement at home, saw similar patterns:
- 2022: Married women accounted for 521 of 859 female suicide deaths (60.65%), while housewives comprised 387 deaths (45.05%).
- 2021: During the second wave of Covid-19, 421 of 746 female suicide victims were married (56.43%), with 351 being housewives (47.05%).
- 2020: With extended lockdowns, married women made up 542 of 895 female suicide deaths (60.56%), and 410 victims were housewives (45.81%).
- 2019: Before the pandemic, 400 of 768 female suicide deaths involved married women (52.08%), and 305 were housewives (39.71%).
Overall Suicide Incidence Higher Among Men, But Women Face Specific Vulnerabilities
While the overall incidence of suicide in Delhi has consistently been higher among men than women, the data reveals distinct vulnerabilities for women. In 2023, of the total 3,131 suicide deaths in the city, 2,295 were men and 836 were women. Similarly, in 2022, the total number of suicides stood at 3,417, comprising 2,558 men and 859 women.
Officials analyzing the data from 2019 to 2023 noted that among women, the highest number of suicide victims fell into the categories of housewives and married women. In contrast, among men, the most affected groups were unemployed individuals and married men. This pattern underscores the significant role that economic pressures and family-related stressors play in driving suicide rates across genders.
The persistent nature of these statistics over half a decade, including periods of global crisis like the pandemic, calls for urgent attention to the mental health and socio-economic challenges faced by women, particularly those in marital and domestic roles, in India's capital city.
