Bhubaneswar: Infidelity has long been viewed through the lens of morality, scandal and family breakdown. But hidden behind the headlines is a darker reality emerging from suicide data: extra-marital affairs are increasingly exacting a deadly psychological toll, particularly on men.

According to recent figures, extra-marital affairs were linked to 1,624 suicides across India in 2024. Of these, 953 victims were men and 671 were women. Put differently, more than two men lost their lives every day in the year in cases linked to extra-marital relationships.

National Trend Shows a Widening Gender Gap

The trend has been building over several years. In 2021, India recorded 1,448 suicides attributed to extra-marital affairs, including 855 men and 593 women. By 2024, the gender gap had widened further, raising questions about how men experience emotional distress, betrayal and relationship breakdowns.

Men Account for Four Out of Five Deaths in Odisha

Odisha's numbers also mirror the national pattern.

In 2021, the state reported 13 suicides linked to extra-marital affairs, including seven men and six women. The figures remained relatively low during 2022 and 2023. However, 2024 witnessed a dramatic surge. Odisha reported 49 suicides related to extra-marital affairs, with men accounting for 40 of those deaths and women just nine.

Why Are Men More Vulnerable to Relationship Crises?

The data challenges long-held assumptions about who bears the emotional burden of marital infidelity.

Mental health professionals point to what they describe as a culture of emotional silence among men. Many are conditioned to suppress vulnerability and avoid seeking help when confronted with emotional betrayal or relationship crises. As a result, distress often remains hidden until it reaches a breaking point.

Divorce, Litigation and Financial Stress Add to Trauma

The consequences of infidelity in India frequently extend beyond emotional pain. The discovery of an affair can trigger divorce proceedings, legal disputes, custody battles and financial uncertainty. For many men, the prospect of prolonged litigation and public embarrassment compounds the trauma of relationship failure.

Social reactions may also play a role. While women continue to face moral judgement in many communities, support networks for women experiencing relationship crises have gradually expanded through family groups, counselling services and social organisations. Men, by contrast, often find themselves isolated or ridiculed, with few avenues for emotional support.

Experts Warn Against Simplistic Gender Narratives

Experts caution against interpreting the figures as evidence that one gender suffers more than the other. Instead, they argue that the data reveal changing social realities and highlight gaps in mental health intervention.

Changing Family Dynamics, Changing Mental Health Risks

The Odisha figures are particularly significant because they suggest that relationship-related distress is becoming a more prominent contributor to psychological crises among men. As family structures evolve and social expectations change, traditional assumptions about emotional resilience may no longer hold true.

The statistics also carry a broader message. Whether the individual is betrayed, accused of infidelity or trapped in a collapsing marriage, the emotional fallout can be severe. Yet mental health discussions around marital and relationship distress remain limited.

A Growing Case for Gender-Neutral Counselling

With male victims accounting for more than four out of every five extra-marital affair-related suicides in Odisha in 2024, experts say there is an urgent need for gender-neutral counselling services, crisis intervention mechanisms and greater awareness of men's mental health challenges.

The data may be uncomfortable, but it points to a reality that can no longer be ignored: behind many relationship crises lies a silent mental health emergency.

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