Housewives more prone to suicide than others

Marital disharmony has emerged a major cause for suicides in India.

Over 12 per cent of the country's suicides, the National Crime Records Bureau has found, are accounted for by stale marital relations. And the majority resorting to this drastic step are between 18 and 40 years of age.

Psychologists says it is the pressure of modern living which is responsible for this disturbing trend. Fast changing lifestyles and rapid improvements in living standards have accelerated the pace of day-to-day life. A bid to keep pace with this fast-track modern existence leaves the husband and wife with virtually no time for each other, thus spoiling conjugal relationships.

"The modern generation is under tremendous pressure to succeed in the face of intense competition," says psychiatrist Dr Parashar, "Not surprisingly, an increased number of marital relationships are undergoing turmoil in recent times."

Chronic mental diseases such as manic depression and schizophrenia are major spurs-on and accounts for 16 per cent of suicidal deaths. Psychologists find housewives more suicidal prone than others. They demand quality time from their husbands and want equality in marriage, but the modern husband have little time for his wife.

Housewife Rachna Arora is unhappy about her husband Sanjay's long work hours. "Often he works in office till late night, and sometimes even on Sunday. He is hardly able to satisfy my emotional and social needs. It makes me feel very lonely," she says.

The exigencies of modern living, Dr Parashar explains, creates an emotional emptiness in the modern couple's -- especially the housewife's -- life. This make them potential victims of several psychological disorders which often culminate in the death wish.

UNI