On an average, eight armed forces personnel committed suicide every month in the last five years. The Centre on Tuesday informed the Lok Sabha that as many as 819 armed forces personnel took the drastic step in the last five years even as several steps have been taken to address the issue.
The highest number of such cases numbering 642 was reported in the Army followed by 148 in the IAF and 29 in the Navy, the government informed the Rajya Sabha. The Ministerof State for Defence Ajay Bhatt's reply came following a question on the number of servicemen and ex-servicemen who committed suicide in the last five years.
On steps taken to address this serious issue, he said, "For management of stress and suicides in services, the armed forces are continuously evolving measures to improve the stress mitigating mechanisms. An elaborate mental health programme has been formulated and is in vogue since 2009." He 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 counseled 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 their respective 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.
Elaborating upon the number of suicides in the armed forces, sources said here on Tuesday, soldiers are deployed in high pressure environment like anti-terrorist operations in Jammu and Kashmir and the North-East.
Moreover, they are serving stints in remote and inhospitable terrains across the length and breadth of the country. The government has taken several measures like liberal leave rules for the soldiers to enable them to spend time with their families.
The defence authorities have also urged the civil administration to adopt a more sympathetic attitude towards the soldiers regarding their problems requiring government intervention.