Bhubaneswar: Gone are the days when marriage is thought to herald bliss. The conjugal ceremony which traditionally celebrated as a union of souls, families, communities and futures has, of late, been triggering stress and even death by cruel suicides.

A glance at the NCRB trend reports for the period 2021- 2024 reveals big.

In Odisha, the institution appears to be carrying a hidden and growing mental health burden. The NCRB data on suicide trends reveal that marriage-related distress pushed an alarming number of people to take their own lives, with the state recording nearly one marriage-linked suicide every day in 2024.

Marriage-Related Distress Emerging as a Silent Crisis

The numbers paint a disturbing picture. Odisha reported 286 suicides linked to marriage-related issues in 2024, a dramatic increase from 50 cases in 2023 and 37 in 2022. The figure is even higher than the 134 cases reported in 2021, indicating that marital distress has emerged as a significant yet often overlooked social challenge.

Big Shift: Men Overtake Women in 2024

What makes the 2024 data particularly striking is the changing gender profile of victims. While women historically accounted for the majority of marriage-related suicides, men emerged as the larger group in 2024. Of the 286 deaths, 171 were men and 115 were women.

The shift suggests that marital stress is no longer confined to traditional narratives of women's suffering within marriage. Instead, it points to a broader crisis affecting both genders, albeit in different ways.

Changing Trend: Men Die More In Non-settlement of Marriage

The conventional belief was, for many women, marraige remains tied to intense social expectations. The inability to find a suitable match, the collapse of marriage negotiations, or prolonged delays in marriage continue to carry a heavy social stigma. The trend was discernible post pandemic too.

In 2021 alone, Odisha recorded 39 female suicides linked to the non-settlement of marriage, underscoring the emotional toll of societal pressure on unmarried women.

But from 2023, trends have reversed. In 2023, when no single women has taken the drastic step over non=settlement of marriage, 6 men dies by suicide.

The tally turned taller in 2024. As many as 11 men died by suicide vis-a-vis 0 women for the cause of non-settlement of marriage.

Dowry Toll Tells Bigger Tale

Dowry-related disputes also remain a persistent source of distress. Despite decades of legal prohibitions, dowry continues to cast a long shadow over marriages. Women accounted for most dowry-related suicide cases between 2021 and 2023, highlighting the enduring vulnerability of brides caught in financial and familial conflicts.

But a big shift has been observed since last two years. When in 2023, 6 men have died by suicide due to dowry related issues, the count turned the gender divide turtle in 2-024.

When 105 men commited suicides for dowry reason, 79 women took the drastic step for the same cause.

Why Are More Men Appearing in the Data?

Experts say the emerging rise in male victims may reflect a different set of pressures. Men facing marital breakdowns increasingly confront lengthy legal battles, maintenance disputes, social humiliation and financial uncertainty. The fear of losing children, family assets and social standing can create severe psychological strain.

The broader challenge lies in the absence of support systems. Marriage counselling remains uncommon, mental health services are inaccessible to many families, and seeking psychological help continues to carry social stigma.

Odisha Reflects a Wider Social Transformation

Nationally, marriage-related issues account for thousands of suicides every year, making them one of the significant social stress factors identified in official data. Odisha's sharp rise in 2024 suggests that the state may be witnessing the local manifestation of a deeper societal transformation.

Behind every statistic lies a story of emotional distress, broken relationships and unresolved conflict. The numbers serve as a reminder that while weddings may last a day, the pressures surrounding marriage can linger for years, sometimes with devastating consequences.

Mental health experts argue that expanding access to counselling, strengthening family mediation services and creating gender-neutral support mechanisms may be essential if Odisha hopes to reverse this troubling trend.

Also Read: Extra-Marital Affairs Claimed More Than 2 Men Every Day in India in 2024! Why Are Men Dying More? | Exclusive