Bhubaneswar, Sept 10: Every year, September 10 is observed as World Suicide Prevention Day, with the aim of raising awareness about suicide and encouraging efforts to prevent it. Across the country, awareness campaigns, discussions and outreach programmes are organised to highlight the importance of mental health and the need to support people struggling with emotional distress.
Yet, despite these efforts, suicide continues to remain a serious concern. In Odisha, the numbers rose steadily in the years following the COVID-19 pandemic, although a marginal decline has been recorded in the last two years. Behind the statistics lie stories of family conflicts, emotional distress, relationship failures, depression, fear and an overwhelming sense of hopelessness.
According to data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), Odisha recorded 4,582 suicides in 2019. The number rose to 5,569 in 2020 and 5,651 in 2021 before reaching a peak of 6,140 in 2022. The figure subsequently declined slightly to 5,989 in 2023 and 5,791 in 2024.
While the decline offers some hope, the overall trend remains worrying. The state recorded more than 5,700 suicide deaths in 2024 alone. Data for 2025 and 2026 is not yet available.
Family distress remains a major trigger
An analysis of the 5,791 suicide deaths recorded in Odisha in 2024 indicates that 56.8 per cent were linked to family-related problems. Relationship troubles and emotional distress arising from love affairs have also emerged as significant factors.
Several recent incidents in Cuttack and other major cities of the state have brought the issue into sharp focus. Behind many such cases are complex personal circumstances that cannot always be reduced to a single cause.
The concern becomes even more serious when suicide affects people who are otherwise expected to be better equipped to deal with life's pressures—including professionals in demanding occupations and working women.
When professional strength masks personal pain
One such incident that drew widespread attention occurred on July 4, when Beauty Mahanty, then an officer-in-charge at Chauliaganj police station in Cuttack, was found dead in her official quarters. The incident shocked the state, particularly because she was herself engaged in maintaining law and order and dealing with the problems of others.
Although mental distress was discussed as a possible factor, the exact circumstances behind her death have not been conclusively established.
Another case involved medical student Chandrika Hembram, whose body was recovered from the Kathajodi River in Cuttack in July. Reports suggested that she had allegedly been driven to take the extreme step because of a relationship-related issue.
In another case in 2025, a woman doctor was found dead at her residence in Dargah Bazaar, Cuttack. Reports indicated that blackmail and mental distress may have played a role in the incident.
Such cases underline a difficult reality: education, professional status or social standing do not necessarily protect a person from severe emotional distress.
The invisible weight of stress
According to eminent psychiatrist Professor Dr Ajay Mishra, suicide is rarely the result of a single factor. Family problems, excessive stress, fear, depression and the feeling that one's problems have no solution can collectively push a person towards a dangerous state of hopelessness.
The warning signs, however, may not always be obvious.
A person who appears strong and functional on the outside may be silently struggling on the inside. Professional responsibilities, relationship pressures, financial concerns, family expectations and the fear of social judgement can all add to the emotional burden.
For some, the inability to see a way out of a difficult situation can make suicide appear to be the only escape.
Talking can be the first step towards healing
The most important intervention, experts say, may begin with something deceptively simple—listening.
People experiencing emotional distress should be encouraged to speak openly with family members, friends or someone they trust. Rather than dismissing their concerns or telling them to simply "move on", those around them need to listen without judgement and help them seek professional support.
Dr Mishra emphasises that talking to loved ones and seeking medical advice can play an important role in overcoming suicidal thoughts and emotional distress.
Suicide prevention, therefore, cannot be limited to a single day of awareness campaigns. It requires a sustained culture in which mental health is treated with the same seriousness as physical health, and where asking for help is seen not as a sign of weakness but as an act of courage.
The numbers may be recorded in government reports, but every number represents a life, a family and a story left unfinished. Preventing the next tragedy begins with recognising the distress behind the silence—and making sure that no one feels they have to face it alone.
