Lok Sabha Question No. 6029 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-04-04
Subject: Mental Stress to Soldiers
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: KUNWAR PUSHPENDRA SINGH CHANDEL, MEENAKASHI LEKHI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE

## LOK  SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.6029

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 4 TH  APRIL, 2018

## MENTAL  STRESS  TO  SOLDIERS

6029.  SHRI  KUNWAR  PUSHPENDRA  SINGH  CHANDEL: SHRIMATI  MEENAKASHI  LEKHI:

Will the Minister of DEFENCE j{kk ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  it  has  come  to  the  notice  of  Government  that  mental  stress  is  a  major challenge for the soldiers in their jobs;
- (b) if  so,  whether  the  Government has taken measures for reducing stress and other issues among the Indian soldiers;
- (c) if so, the details thereof and the facilities being made available to army personnel for psychological counselling; and
- (d) the steps being taken to raise awareness about post traumatic stress disorder?

## A    N    S    W    E    R

MINISTER OF DEFENCE                                    (SMT. NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)

j{kk ea=h

¼Jherh  fueZyk lhrkje.k )

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- (a) & (b): Measures taken for reducing stress among the Indian soldiers are listed at Annexure.
- (c) & (d): The service of officers trained in Psychological Counselling Course by Defence Institute of Psychological Research (DIPR) and Junior  Commissioned Officers / Other Ranks trained in Psychological Counselling at Command / Corps level and services of civilian psychological  counsellors, and service counsellors  are being  utilised  for psychological counselling.

The  awareness  about  post  traumatic  stress  disorders  (PTSD)  are being covered in general lectures of stress management.

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## ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN THE REPLY GIVEN IN PARTS (a) & (b) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 6029 FOR ANSWER ON 4.4.2018

A number of steps have been instituted for the management of stress among  soldiers  in  a  multi-pronged  manner.    They  include  provision  of superior quality of clothing, food, married accommodation, implementation of 'buddy' system, travel facilities, schooling, recreation, establishment of grievance  redressal  mechanism  in  the  States,  etc.    An  elaborate  Mental Health  programme  has  also  been  formulated  and  disseminated  to  all concerned for implementation.

Apart from the above, the following numerous steps towards stress amelioration are also being taken:

- (I) Training  of  Medical  and  Para-Medical  personnel  in  'Mental  Health First Aid'.
- (II) Establishment of  Community  Mental  Health Centres  (Aarogyadham) in  Mumbai,  Vishakhapatnam,  Kochi  and  Port  Blair,  consisting  of  the following:
- (i) Clinical/Counselling psychologist
- (ii) Social Worker
- (iii) Yoga Teacher
- (iv) Medical sailor qualified in Psychiatric nursing
- (III) All Naval training programmes have been modified to include:
- (i) Introduction  of  'Keep  Your  Mate  Safe  training'  i.e.  a  half  day session as part of all training courses for officers and sailors.
- (ii) Incorporation  of  a  session  of  Stress  Management  and  other issues as part of all training conferences and CO/XOs PCT.
- (IV) Training  of  Medical  Officer  and  medical  personnel  by  Institution  of a training session on Mental Health issues for all MOs and medical sailors. Conduct  of  an  annual  CME  on  Mental  Health  issues  as  part  of  Marine Medicine Conference.
- (V) Project  MILAP  and  project  SAHYOG  have  been  institutionalized  by Indian  Army  in  Northern  and  Eastern  Command  respectively  to  reduce stress amongst troops
- (VI) Mansik  Sahayata  Helpline  at  respective  Command  HQ  have  been established to take professional counselling.
- (VII) Mental Health  Awareness during  Pre-Induction Training: In areas of J&K, psychiatrists / trained psychological counsellors conduct talks during Pre-Induction Training on stress related  issues, early recognition of signs & symptoms related to stress and measures to cope with these issues.

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(VIII)  Studies on causes/issues related to suicide/fratricides are carried out from time to  time  and  suitable  educational  material  including  short  films are prepared and disseminated for education of troops.

- (IX) Personnel  at  high  risk  of  combat  stress  (vulnerable)  are  identified and  counseld by  unit  Commanding Officers,  Regimental  Medical Officers and Junior Leaders as per Standard Operating Procedure (SOP).
- (X) Better  man  management  and  prompt  attendance  of  grievances  by units and formations
- (XI) Buddy system has been expanded from two to four/five Other Rank, to be more effective.

(XII) Liberalized leave policy to attend to domestic problems and authorization of additional railway  warrant  to  personnel  deployed  in Counter Insurgency/Counter Terrorists Areas.

(XIII)  All  personnel  found  to  be  having  any  suspected  psychological problem  are  referred  to  Psychiatrist in  nearest  service hospital  and followed up thereafter.

(XIV)  Counselling  of  ladies  suffering  from  mental  stress  due  to  marital discord by senior ladies by AFWWA.

(XV) Setting of telephonic/e-mail helpline.

The following additional steps have been initiated:

- (i) Training  of  non-medical  personnel  in  'Mental  Health  -  Keep your Buddy Safe'.
- (ii) Increase  in  strength  of  MD  (Psychiatry)  and  starting  of  new training courses, such as M. Phil in Clinical Psychiatry, M. Phil in  Psycho-social  Work  and  Diploma  in  Psychiatric  Nursing  in Department  of  Psychiatry  at  INHS  Asvini  under  the  National Mental Health Programme.
- (iii) A structured programme to promote Marital Harmony.
- (iv) Formation  of  a  Military  Psychiatry  Treatment  Centre  at  INHS Asvini.
- (v) Embedding  medical  sailors  trained  in  mental  health  in  large ships.

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