Unemployment and Workplace Stress Linked to 26,000 Suicides in Five Years: NCRB Report

New Delhi, 30th October 2025: India witnessed a disturbing trend of rising suicides linked to job-related stress, with eight people dying by suicide every day due to unemployment and five others due to workplace issues in 2023, according to the latest report from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB).

Between 2019 and 2023, over 26,000 individuals lost their lives due to reasons tied to job loss, financial distress, or professional challenges — underscoring how economic instability and workplace pressures continue to affect mental well-being across the country.

Although these two categories accounted for around 3% of all suicides annually, the numbers remained consistent even after economic recovery post-COVID-19, reflecting lingering insecurity in the labour market. The NCRB data shows a marked surge during the pandemic years. Suicides linked to unemployment climbed from 2,851 in 2019 to 3,548 in 2020, peaking at 3,541 in 2021. Similarly, suicides citing “professional or career-related problems” rose sharply from 1,658 in 2019 to 2,593 in 2021 — an increase of over 56%.

While the figures saw a slight decline later, the rates remain significantly higher than pre-pandemic levels. In 2023, 3,063 people died by suicide due to unemployment, compared to 3,170 in 2022. Deaths linked to workplace or career issues fell from 2,083 in 2022 to 1,928 in 2023.
Mental health professionals say these numbers highlight the enduring psychological toll of job uncertainty.

“Employment is not just about income—it’s closely tied to identity, dignity, and social belonging,” said a Delhi-based psychiatrist. “When individuals face layoffs, mounting debts, or workplace humiliation, it creates a deep sense of hopelessness that can spiral into tragedy.”

Experts also noted that while men constitute the majority of cases in these categories due to their traditional role as breadwinners, suicides among women over career-related stress are also gradually rising.

Overall, suicides in India rose by more than 23% between 2019 and 2023—from nearly 1.4 lakh deaths to 1.7 lakh. Family disputes remained the leading cause, accounting for nearly one-third of all cases. The NCRB report shows such deaths climbed from about 45,000 in 2019 to more than 54,000 in 2023.

Illness-related suicides were the second-highest category, increasing from 23,830 in 2019 to 32,503 in 2023, with mental illness alone contributing to nearly 14,000 cases each year. Deaths due to addiction to drugs or alcohol also rose sharply—from 7,800 to over 12,000 during the same period.

Other contributing factors included love affairs (rising from 6,311 to 8,012), indebtedness (5,908 to 6,556), and marriage-related issues (7,595 to 9,045). However, suicides linked to poverty slightly declined from 1,284 in 2019 to 1,122 in 2023, while those related to property disputes saw a marginal increase.

Experts stress that the data reveals a growing crisis that requires stronger public mental health interventions, workplace counselling, and employment support programs. “These figures are not just statistics—they represent lives lost to despair,” said another mental health advocate. “Addressing the root causes of job insecurity and emotional distress must be a national priority.”