Ranchi: The number of men who died by suicides in the state was nearly three times higher than those by women in 2024, according to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) 2024 report.Jharkhand recorded 1,991 suicide deaths in 2024, a marginal decline from 2,006 reported in 2023. Of the total deaths in 2024, 1,412 were men and 579 were women. The state’s suicide rate, measured per 1 lakh population, stood at 5.Mental health experts attributed the gap to differences in methods, social conditioning and help-seeking behaviour. Dr Sanjay Kumar Munda, professor at the Central Institute of Psychiatry (CIP), said that while suicide bids may be higher among women, men often resort to more lethal means.He said stigma around seeking help continues to weigh heavily on men and contributed to higher mortality. Many men delay or avoid intervention until a crisis deepens, he added.Dr Siddhartha Sinha, senior consultant and neuro-psychiatrist at the Ranchi Institute of Neuro-Psychiatry and Allied Sciences (Rinpas), said substance abuse often becomes a dangerous coping mechanism. In moments of distress, he said, men are more likely to take alcohol or drugs instead of turning to clinical care.Dr Sinha also pointed to entrenched “anti-psychiatry” beliefs. Many men, he said, avoid professional treatment because of shame or rumours that medicines can cause physical problems such as erectile dysfunction.The NCRB report identified family problems and marital issues as the leading causes behind suicides in Jharkhand, accounting for 551 and 388 cases, respectively. Other major causes included failed love affair in 282 cases, unemployment in 193, and chronic illness in 179.On the psychological dimension, Dr Munda said people who try to kill themselves often show poor tolerance levels and maladaptive coping skills. He advised the use of either “problem-focused” or “emotion-focused” coping strategies. “A person should first assess whether a problem can be solved. If not, the focus should shift to managing emotions and seeking professional support,” he said.Dr Sinha said reaching a professional was only the beginning, warning that “undertreatment” remained a serious obstacle. Many patients discontinue medicines and therapy after slight improvement, he said, unlike the consistency shown in treating long-term physical illnesses such as diabetes or hypertension.