Men’s mental health is a critically under-addressed issue in India’s legal and policy landscape, with suicide rates and emotional neglect among men exposing glaring regulatory and social gaps. Despite increased public awareness, men remain largely invisible within mental health and gender justice frameworks, especially regarding formal recognition of stress, workplace pressures, and emotional abuse.
The Treatment and Reporting Gap
Current legal and policy provisions, such as the National Mental Health Policy of India, seldom account for gender-specific needs, and less than 2% of India’s overall health budget is dedicated to mental health, with an even smaller fraction targeting men. This neglect manifests in a massive treatment gap, societal stigma, and underreporting of psychological distress issues compounded by masculine norms that discourage emotional vulnerability.
Legal and Institutional Voids
The law formally recognizes mental cruelty and harassment, but legislation like the Domestic Violence Act and the POSH Act (2013) are heavily gendered, offering protections mainly to women. Men enduring emotional abuse, false accusations, or workplace harassment often lack statutory recourse, and male victims are forced to navigate systems that rarely acknowledge their pain. Even as courts, in landmark cases, have conceded that men can be victims of mental cruelty, these recognitions are not reflected in comprehensive legal remedies or institutional support.
Suicide and Emotional Neglect
NCRB data highlights that men account for about 72% of suicide deaths in India, with marital and family strife often involving accusations and emotional trauma being significant contributors. Cases have shown that the misuse of gender-specific laws and the lack of safety nets for men can escalate distress, sometimes with tragic consequences such as suicide.
The Case for Policy Reform
Policy activists and experts call for urgent reforms, including gender-inclusive mental health programs, creation of safe spaces for emotional expression, and explicit recognition of men’s vulnerabilities. Legal reforms are also urged: making anti-harassment and domestic violence laws gender-neutral, ensuring support systems for falsely accused men, and establishing institutional mechanisms such as a National Commission for Men. Judicial acknowledgment of emotional neglect and psychological abuse should translate into tangible legal protections and preventive measures.
Conclusion
The law must bridge the gap between recognizing men’s emotional suffering and offering real remedies. Ignoring the silent burden carried by men not only perpetuates suffering but also fosters a public health and justice crisis. To build a more fair and healthy society, India’s legal and policy apparatus must evolve moving toward gender-neutral, empathetic frameworks that protect the mental well-being and dignity of all.
