Over 800 suicide cases reported in armed forces in last five years: Government

Over 800 armed forces personnel have committed suicide in the last year, with maximum suicides reported from Indian Army, the government informed Rajya Sabha today. "819 armed forces personnel committed suicide in the last 5 years , with the Army reporting a maximum of 642 such cases, Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt said in Rajya Sabha in a written reply.

Apart from Indian Army, Indian Air Force reported 148 cases of suicide in five years, while Indian Navy reported 29 cases, MoS Defence Ajay Bhat said in a reply to a question on the number of servicemen and ex-servicemen who committed suicide in the last five years.

Bhat said that the defence forces conduct an elaborate mental health programme and is in vogue since 2009.

"For management of stress and suicides in services, the armed forces are continuously evolving measures to improve the stress mitigating mechanisms," Bhatt added.

He also said various mechanisms to observe and identify armed forces personnel with problems such as depression and suicidal tendencies are in place.

"Personnel at high risk of stress are identified and counselled by unit commanding officers, regimental medical officers and junior leaders as per laid down procedures," the minister said.

He said all the personnel returning to the units after leave are interviewed, counselled and medically examined by the regimental medical officers.

In the Army, he said the issue of stress is being addressed by the commanders in a comprehensive manner at various levels.

"Sessions for stress management are organised by commanders and psychiatrists at all major stations. Counselling is an intrinsic component of 23 psychiatric centres in the Army manned by well trained and qualified psychiatrists and psychiatric nursing assistants," Bhatt added.

The Rajya Sabha Secretariat uploaded the questions on its website on Tuesday.

(Inputs from PTI)