CISF sees 40% decline in deaths among its personnel

CISF's proactive measures reduce suicide rates by 40%, implementing mental health support and personalized engagements for personnel.

Proactive measures launched by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) led to a 40% decline in the rates of death by suicide among its rank and file, sources said. According to National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data, the national suicide rate stood at 12.4 per lakh, while it has been reduced to 9.87 per lakh, in 2024.

“Suicide of force members is a critical concern within Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), stress, prolonged family separation and work-related pressures besides personal issues often contribute to this complex issue,” senior sources said.

The CISF claims to have taken creditable steps in combating this challenge by implementing a series of proactive measures which have led to substantial reduction in suicides of force members in 2024.

As per the latest NCRB data, the national suicide rate stood at 12.4 per lakh people in 2022, in comparison, the CISF significantly reduced its suicide rate to 9.87 per lakh in 2024, a decline of over 40% in 2023. “It is for the first time in the last five years that CISF suicide rate has fallen below the national rate. CISF has taken a series of steps to address mental health issues on proactive basis, leading to a substantial reduction in suicides,” sources said.

In personalised engagements, commanding officers regularly visit duty posts to foster direct communication to hold daily “briefing–debriefing” to promptly identify and address signs of distress.

The CISF also brought in an online grievance portal, which allowed timely monitoring of grievances at all levels (up to the level of DG), ensuring timely resolution of grievances, along with mental health support through 24x7 tele-counselling and personal counselling, sources said.

Till September 2024, around 4,200 CISF personnel received help through this facility. Apart from it, one-to-one counselling facility is also implemented. A comprehensive mental health study was conducted in collaboration with AIIMS, New Delhi and actionable recommendations are being implemented at unit level.