Societal noose: What explains high suicide rates among men in Mizoram?

In Mizoram, between 2020 and 2024, there were 390 incidents of suicide, out of these, 85% or 332 were male suicides. The number of female suicides in these four years is 58. 

The stark gender disparity in suicide rates points to deeper societal and cultural factors influencing mental health, particularly among men. 

“Mizo people are a small community and people like to talk about other people, so it becomes important for one to care about how others perceive them. The men are concerned about having a macho personality and often think that even going to the hospital for medical checkups is a sign of weakness, so for a man from such a society to cry would be considered a taboo. This is especially common among the older generations and those who live in rural areas,” said Lalawmpuia Kawlni from Aizawl.  

He recalled one incident in particular which has stayed in his mind, “One day, we toiled for the whole day doing manual labour, I was so tired that I rested a bit and laid down on the sidewalk. One senior lady who passed me said, ‘O a young lad is tired,’ and I think what she meant to say is that young men should not be tired as long as they have work to do, they should be tough at all times, I thought this was a very old way to look at it.”

Talking about therapy options, Kawlni said, “It is hard to say when looking at suicide, but if we are the main bread earners, sometimes things can go wrong, and most men will choose to just suffer it by themselves, they are weak in communicating, and the Mizo people are people who do not speak or communicate much, so especially when it comes to therapy for a man who considers himself a macho he would not see it as an option at all.”

A psychologist, Lalrinpuii,* shared her concerns saying, “The majority of men do not intend to seek professional help, this may be because they feel that it is not ‘manly.” Also, she added that men are more intent on fulfilling what they have set out to do, so while there are many cases of attempted suicide among women when it comes to men, they feel that they should fulfil what they have set their mind to do, and commit to doing the act. 

Last year, the Mizoram Police revealed that from 2011 to July 2023, a total of 1,145 suicides have occurred within the state. Disturbingly, data shows a significant gender disparity, with male suicides being a staggering 65% higher than those among females. Out of the 1,145 individuals who have taken their own lives, a staggering 954 (82.97%) were men, while 191 (17.03%) were women. A significant majority of those who have succumbed to suicide fall within the age bracket of 20 to 39 years.

As Kawlni mentioned, there is an intent for men to present themselves as “macho” in the society, which is largely patriarchal. A study by researchers in Mizoram University found that for decades, Mizo history has shown the dominance of patriarchal attitudes, which has encouraged the privilege of the male population.  The Mizo society operates within a framework of patriarchy, delineating clear roles for both men and women. Men hold significant sway within both the familial and societal realms. In instances where men exert authority over domestic and communal spheres, women assume subordinate positions, primarily serving and being associated with the male members of their families. 

Lalkrawsmawia, a Bachelor of Divinity graduate who is active in church activities and societal activities pointed out many reasons for the high rate of suicide in men, among which he mentioned the playing of online video games. “There are many who are addicted to video games, they do not take part in physical activities, they eat well but their psychology is not healthy.”

He also spoke of other various reasons for high responsibility on men, the impact of drugs on failed relationships, unemployment, family problems, and being distant from church. 

As a pastor-to-be, Lalkrawsmawia shared his viewpoints from the church saying, “It is important to have close ties with the church and be dependent on God. We have to brave ourselves to face the world. We must read the Bible and learn to have a healthy lifestyle.”

Dr. Reuben Lalmalsawma, a professional videographer also agreed with Lalkrawsmawia saying, “If we did not have the church of YMA (Mizoram’s apex NGO), our state would be similar to that of the movie Narcos. It is concerning that that might be our future because many people who have seen success are through smuggling activities, we are slowly transitioning into a society that could go along the lines of the line ‘You get the money, then the power and the girls,’ from Scarface movie.”

He also stressed the high number of unemployed men, “They are beyond the control of their parents and just roam around as their will. The majority of us are also highly attracted to alcohol and other substances. It is just that in some cases people hold back due to their responsibilities in the church, otherwise the number of cases would be even higher,” he said.  

The issue of gender disparities extends beyond suicide rates. According to records from the State Economic and Statistical Department, data reveals a consistent pattern of higher male mortality rates in the state. In 2021, for example, out of a total of 8,101 recorded deaths, 5,156 were men, and 2,945 were women. The records further indicate that in 2020, 6,703 people died, with 4,266 being male, and in 2019, there were 6,606 deaths, with 4,702 being males. 

Speaking on the impact of responsibility, Lalmalsawma said, “As many people are unemployed, when some struggles arise such as a failed relationship or family problems, we are not strong enough to handle it because we are not used to holding responsibility.” 

Speaking on the difference between men and women, he highlighted that women are given responsibility at a young age, including taking care of household chores. “During my research on gaming, I found no women in gaming parlours, while men spent most of their time there. Even my professors questioned whether this was because women are often occupied with household chores,” he said. 

While Lalkrawsmawia and Lalmalsawma advocate for close ties with the church, Lalrinpuii* believes this approach may contribute to the suicide crisis. “Connecting mental illness to the church and relying solely on spiritual solutions is problematic. Some people attend church camps, only to find their mental health deteriorating,” she said. She stressed the importance of seeking professional help rather than relying exclusively on religious interventions.

This story has been published as part of the AIPP-EastMojo Fellowship 2024

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