Suicide incidents increased last 5 years, A total of 819 armed forces persons died by suicide in the past five years, with the Army reporting 642 such cases, according to details provided by the Centre.
o 819 armed forces personnel have died by suicide in the last five years, the Indian Army reporting a maximum of such cases according to details provided by the government.
o According to details provided by the Center, the army has reported a maximum of 642 such cases.
A subtotal of 819 armed forces personnel has reportedly died by suicide in the last five years, with the Army reporting a maximum of 642 such cases, as per details provided by the Centre.
The Centre is enacting various schemes and mechanisms to identify and observe armed forces persons with mental health issues such as depression and suicidal tendencies.
In a written reply to a question put up in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt has stated that the Indian Air Force has reported 148 cases of suicide in the given period, while the number for the Indian Navy was 29.
The minister’s reply on Monday came in lieu of a question asking for the number of servicemen and ex-servicemen who have committed suicide in the last five years.
For stress management and suicide control in services, the armed forces are constantly developing measures to improve stress mitigating mechanisms.
An elaborate mental health program has been formulated and has been active since 2009, Mr. Bhatt stated.
He said that various mechanisms to observe and identify armed forces persons with mental health problems such as depression and suicidal tendencies are in place.
The minister said that the personnel at high risk of stress are pointed out and then counseled by their unit commanding officers, regimental medical officers and junior leaders according to laid down procedures.
He said all the personnel returning to their units after leave are first interviewed, counseled and medically examined by their regimental medical officers.
In the Army, he said the problem of stress is being studied by commanders in a comprehensive manner at multiple levels.
Mr Bhatt added that sessions for stress management are being organized by commanders and psychiatrists at all major stations.
Counseling is an integral part of 23 psychiatric centers in the Army overlooked by well-trained and qualified psychiatrists and psychiatric nursing assistants, The Rajya Sabha Secretariat uploaded the report on its website on Tuesday.
