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August 22, 2023
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Many women grow up being told that relationships define their worth. A “good love,” “good partner,” “good wife,” or “good mother” becomes the ultimate label of success. Yet these ideals rarely account for the mental load women carry; juggling work, caregiving, financial worries, and emotional labour. When relationships fail to provide mutual respect and support, the impact can be devastating.
Loneliness in a marriage, emotional abuse in a partnership, or betrayal in trust can silently eat away at self-esteem, leading some women into depression and thoughts of self-harm.
Relationships can heal. Having a partner who listens, validates, and supports can protect women against stress and anxiety. But when love becomes controlling or dismissive, it flips into a double-edged sword. Women often hesitate to speak about abuse or neglect because of shame, stigma, or fear of being judged. Many are told to “endure” for the sake of family or children. This silence isolates them further, creating a breeding ground for despair.
In South Asian societies, silence is often mistaken for strength. Women are praised for tolerating pain, but rarely encouraged to voice their struggles. Talking about suicide or depression is taboo, which makes it harder for women to seek help. A woman may be surrounded by family yet feel utterly alone because her pain is dismissed as “overthinking” or “mood swings.” Without spaces to talk openly, many bottle up emotions until the weight becomes unbearable.
Unrealistic expectations are another silent killer. Women are expected to be endlessly available to nurture, to sacrifice, to forgive. Partners may take their emotional work for granted. This imbalance leads to exhaustion, resentment, and feelings of being unworthy. Research shows that women are more likely to internalise conflict, blaming themselves when relationships fail, even if the cause lies in neglect or abuse. Over time, this self-blame can spiral into hopelessness.
Even in intimate partnerships, women often feel unseen. Sexual intimacy without emotional connection can deepen feelings of emptiness. When a partner ignores a woman’s needs; whether for conversation, affection, or companionship she can feel more isolated in the relationship than she would be single. This paradox of “loneliness together” is one of the strongest predictors of depression among women.
Economic dependence plays a critical role. Many women cannot leave toxic relationships because they fear financial insecurity. Dependence ties them to environments where their dignity and safety are compromised. Studies across South Asia show that financial independence improves women’s ability to seek help, leave abusive relationships, and rebuild life after trauma. Without it, many remain trapped, silently enduring until their mental health breaks.
For mothers, the struggle is even more complex. Women often prioritise children over their own wellbeing, neglecting their mental health. Guilt becomes a permanent companion guilt for not being a “good enough” mother, for considering separation, or for even imagining life beyond caregiving. This guilt keeps many women from admitting when they feel overwhelmed, further isolating them.
Every statistic on female suicide hides a story. The woman who endured years of emotional abuse without anyone noticing. The mother who felt her children would be better off without her. The young woman whose dreams were dismissed by a controlling partner. These stories rarely make headlines, but they remind us of the urgent need to break stigma and talk openly.
The impact of relationships on women’s mental health is not inevitable. Healthy, respectful partnerships can protect women from stress and provide resilience. This requires conscious effort:
When these values are present, relationships can become a source of strength rather than despair.
The most powerful step is seeking help. Therapy, counselling, support groups, or simply confiding in a trusted friend can break the cycle of silence. Women must know that asking for help is not weakness but courage. Societies must also create safe, accessible systems where women feel protected when they speak up whether against abuse or about suicidal thoughts.
While this blog speaks from a female perspective, responsibility does not rest on women alone. Partners, families, and communities must step up. Men, in particular, need to challenge old norms of silence and dominance. Workplaces must provide mental health support and not penalise women for speaking out. Governments must strengthen crisis hotlines and counselling services.
On World Suicide Prevention Day, the most radical act is to listen. To sit with a woman’s pain without minimising it. To validate rather than dismiss. To replace silence with dialogue, and judgement with compassion. Women deserve relationships that nourish rather than destroy. Every conversation that breaks the silence can save a life.
To read “Red Flags in Relationships: Signs You Shouldn’t Ignore”, Click Here.
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