India’s National Crime Record Bureau recently released alarming data on the mental health of Indian housewives. The alarming data released by the NCRB strongly suggested that housewives are the most prone to commit suicide.
According to the latest reports released by the National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB) in 2021, Indian housewives accounted for over 50 per cent (23,179) of the total female victims of suicide (1,64,033).
The NCRB insisted on the need to create more awareness about mental health in Indian households. The department further suggested that special attention needs to be directed towards the mental health of the female homemakers.
Responding to the shocking and alarming data by the NCRB, Dr Mimansa Singh Tanwar, one of the leading clinical psychologists of India, said “It isn’t something unknown. Women have always faced social pressures related to early marriage, family problems, having children, running the family and social conformity.”
Further explaining what actually causes the mental health of homemakers to deteriorate to such an unimaginable extent, the clinical psychologist added, “With the changing societal structures, more women are stepping out into the workforce and taking on multiple roles. Yet the larger burden of responsibilities and day-to-day family functioning in the larger section of the society comes on women. This leads to unequal distribution of the burden, causing more stress and health-related concerns.”
Dr Tanwar, who also works at the Department of Mental Health and Behavioural Sciences, Fortis National Mental Health Program, also spoke about the negative impacts of the Covid19 pandemic on the mental health of people, especially Indian housewives.
“During Covid-19, we saw an alarming rise in the data (of violence against women). Sexual and physical violence by partners has a huge psychological impact, causing them to lose their sense of agency and experience trauma, fear, isolation and mental health problems such as depression and suicidal behaviour. These come from feeling helpless and hopeless about the circumstance” Dr Tanwar responded.
In her concluding statement, Dr Tanwar also addressed the revolutionary changes. She mentioned how, over recent years, women have started being vocal about their mental health issues instead of being silent sufferers.”