Details of Suicide and Premature Retirement in Armed Forces

The details of number of incidents of suicide in the defence forces during last three years and the current year, force-wise & year-wise is as under:

Year	Army		Navy		Air Force
	Officers	JCOs/ ORs	Officers	Sailors	Officers	Airmen
2014	02	82	Nil	04	02	19
2015	01	77	Nil	03	Nil	14
2016	04	100	01	05	03	16
2017	02	67	01	04	Nil	18

Some of the reasons for committing suicide are family issues/ domestic problems, marital discord, perceived grievances and personal issues etc.

The details of number of officers and Other Ranks who have applied for premature retirement during the last three years and the current year are as under:-

Year	Army		Navy	Air Force
	Officers	JCOs /ORs	Officers	Sailors	Officers	Airmen
2014	165	12703	74	32	135	722
2015	108	9296	130	16	67	550
2016	291	12307	142	26	139	649
2017	239*	3844**	30**	15	144	136

* As on 1.10.2017

** upto March 2017

Various steps have been taken by the Armed Forces to create healthy/ appropriate environment for their Officers and Other Ranks. Some of these steps are as under:-

Provision of better quality of facilities such as clothing, food, married accommodation, travel facilities, schooling, recreation etc. and periodic welfare meeting.

Conduct of yoga and meditation as a tool for stress management.

Training & deployment of psychological counsellors.

Institutionalization of projects ‘MILAP’ and ‘SAHYOG’ by Army in Northern & Eastern Command to reduce stress among troops. A ‘Mansik Sahayata Helpline’ have been established by Army & Air Force to take professional counselling. Mental Health Awareness is provided during pre-induction training.

Formation of Military Psychiatry Treatment Centre at INHS Asvini and establishment of Mental Health Centres in Mumbai, Visakhapatnam, Kochi, Port Blair, Goa and Karwar.

This information was given by Raksha Rajya Mantri Dr. Subhash Bhamre in a written reply to Smt Darshana Vikram Jardosh and Shri Dushyant Chautala in Lok Sabha today.