Maharashtra Sees Alarming 7,500% Rise In Mental Health-Related Deaths Over Five Years

Mumbai: Maharashtra has witnessed a staggering rise in deaths linked to mental health issues over the past five years, according to data obtained through a Right to Information (RTI) query. Fatalities attributed to mental and behavioural disorders surged by an alarming 7,500 percent from just 26 deaths in 2019 to 1,919 in 2023. Notably, the number of female deaths due to these conditions has also seen a sharp increase.

In 2019, all 26 deaths comprising 9 males and 17 females were classified under the Schizophrenia and Delusional Disorders category. These disorders are marked by severe disturbances in thinking, perception, and emotional regulation, often involving hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized behaviour.

After 2019, the state experienced a sudden and steep rise in deaths due to a broader range of mental and behavioural disorders. In 2020, a total of 1,171 deaths were reported, including 902 males and 269 females. The following year, in 2021, the number rose to 1,599, with 1,190 male and 409 female deaths. In 2022, 1,073 deaths were recorded, and in 2023, the toll peaked at 1,919.

While deaths linked specifically to schizophrenia and delusional disorders remained relatively consistent with 51 deaths in 2020, 80 in 2021, 49 in 2022, and 148 in 2023 there was a sharp and disturbing increase in fatalities associated with psychoactive substance use.

Experts attribute this trend to the growing crisis of substance use disorder, a condition that alters brain function and impairs judgment, leading to the compulsive use of legal or illegal substances. Psychoactive substances include alcohol, nicotine, marijuana, caffeine, and prescription medications, along with illegal drugs such as heroin, LSD, cocaine, and amphetamines.

In 2023 alone, out of the total 1,919 deaths, 1,186 — or 61 percent — were caused by psychoactive substance use. This included 1,074 male and 112 female deaths. While deaths related to schizophrenia and delusional disorders have not spiked dramatically, fatalities attributed to other mental and behavioural disorders also increased significantly. In 2023, 585 such deaths were recorded under this broader category.

According to data, a total of 5,788 people died due to mental and behavioural disorders in Maharashtra between 2019 and 2023. The highest number of deaths 996 occurred in the 45 to 54 age group, followed by 939 deaths in the 35 to 44 age group. Alarmingly, 277 deaths were also recorded among individuals aged 15 to 24.

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To address the rising toll, the state government has initiated a number of interventions. Mental health services have been established in all 36 district hospitals, each staffed with a psychiatrist, a clinical psychologist, a psychiatric nurse, and a social worker. Additionally, a specialized psychiatric teleconsultation service was launched in 2022 to increase accessibility and early intervention in mental health care.

Total Deaths: 5788 from 2019 to 2023

2019: 26 deaths (9 males, 17 females)

2020: 1,171 deaths (902 males, 269 females)

2021: 1,599 deaths (1,190 males, 409 females)

2022: 1,073 deaths (869 males, 204 females)

2023: 1,919 deaths (1476 males, 443 females)

Age-wise deaths:

45-54 years: 996

35-44 years: 939

25-34 years: 544

15-24 years: 277