Suicidality among Indian Cancer Patients: Psychosocial Risk Factors and Prevention Strategies – A Narrative Review

Abstract

Cancer is a major public health concern and one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide. Beyond physical morbidity, cancer significantly affects the psychological well-being of patients and increases vulnerability to depression, anxiety, hopelessness, psychological distress, and suicidality. Indian cancer patients frequently experience emotional distress associated with chronic pain, uncertainty regarding prognosis, fear of death, social stigma, financial burden, prolonged treatment, and reduced quality of life. These challenges become more severe during advanced stages of illness, recurrence, disability, and terminal conditions. The present narrative review examines suicidality among Indian cancer patients and discusses the major biological, psychological, social, and cultural factors associated with suicide risk. Depression, hopelessness, inadequate social support, prior psychiatric illness, poor prognosis, chronic pain, and caregiver burden are identified as important contributors to suicidal ideation among cancer patients. Indian family systems play a dual role by providing emotional, financial, practical, and spiritual support while simultaneously experiencing considerable caregiving burden and emotional exhaustion. Psycho-oncology services, psychosocial interventions, palliative care, counseling, and routine mental health screening are essential for improving emotional adjustment and reducing suicide risk among cancer patients. Despite increasing awareness regarding psycho-oncology, routine suicide risk assessment and integrated mental healthcare services remain limited in many Indian oncology settings. This review emphasizes the need for culturally sensitive, multidisciplinary, and family-centered suicide prevention strategies to improve quality of life and psychological outcomes among Indian cancer patients.