Lok Sabha Question No. 2654 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-12-04
Subject: Suicide/Killing in Army
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: Srinivas Kesineni

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2654

TO BE ANSWERED ON 4 th  December, 2019

## SUICIDE/KILLING IN ARMY

## 2654. SHRI KESINENI SRINIVAS:

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

- (a) the number of incidents of suicides and killing of colleagues in the Armed Forces from 2010 to 2019;
- (b) whether the Government has been able to assess the reasons for such incidents;
- (c) if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government has a mental health policy for armed personnel to prevent such incidents; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and the support given to families of armed personnel who are victims of such incidents?

## A    N    S    W    E    R

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

(SHRI SHRIPAD NAIK)

रक्षा राज्य मंत्री

( श्री श्रीपाद नाईक )

- (a) to (e):  A statement is attached.

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## STATEMENT REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTs  (a)  TO  (e)  OF  LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.  2654 FOR ANSWER ON 04.12.2019 REGARDING 'SUICIDE/KILLING IN ARMY'.

- (a):  The  details  of  number  of  incidents  of  suicides  and  killing  of  colleagues  in  the armed forces from 2010 to 2019 are as under:
- (b) & (c): Yes, Sir. Defence Institute of Psychological Research (DIPR) has conducted a  number  of  studies  since  2006  to  establish  cause  of  suicide  in  the  Armed  Forces. Domestic  &  personal  problems,  marital  discord,  stress,  health  issues,  financial problems are identified as major causes of such incidents.
- (d)  &  (e):  Yes,  Sir.  Mental  Health  Programme  for  the  Armed  Forces  has  been prepared in September, 2008 by Director General of Armed Forces Medical Services (DGAFMS).

| Year   | Army                           | Army                         | Navy                           | Navy                         | Air Force                      | Air Force                    |
|--------|--------------------------------|------------------------------|--------------------------------|------------------------------|--------------------------------|------------------------------|
| Year   | No. of Suspected Suicide Cases | No. of killing of colleagues | No. of Suspected Suicide Cases | No. of killing of colleagues | No. of Suspected Suicide Cases | No. of killing of colleagues |
| 2010   | 116                            | 05                           | 01                             | Nil                          | 14                             | Nil                          |
| 2011   | 105                            | 04                           | 04                             | Nil                          | 23                             | Nil                          |
| 2012   | 95                             | 01                           | 01                             | Nil                          | 15                             | Nil                          |
| 2013   | 86                             | 03                           | 06                             | Nil                          | 15                             | Nil                          |
| 2014   | 84                             | 09                           | 04                             | Nil                          | 24                             | 01                           |
| 2015   | 78                             | 01                           | 03                             | Nil                          | 15                             | Nil                          |
| 2016   | 104                            | 02                           | 06                             | Nil                          | 19                             | 01                           |
| 2017   | 77                             | 01                           | 05                             | Nil                          | 21                             | Nil                          |
| 2018   | 83                             | 01                           | 08                             | Nil                          | 16                             | Nil                          |
| 2019   | 63                             | 01                           | 02                             | Nil                          | 20                             | Nil                          |

Training is imparted for service personnel on Mental Health and psychological counselling.  Further,  various  workshops  and  lectures  on  these  issues  are  conducted regularly.

Counselling for families of victims of air warriors is organized by psychological counsellors at all stations of Indian Air Force. Again, widows of Naval Personnel  who  die  in  harness  are  given  age  relaxation  up  to  35  years  and  such candidates  who have children are  permitted to apply for Short Service Commission (SSC) officer entries without any relaxation in educational and medical standards.

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