Suicides, resignations rise among defence personnel; better mental health support, grievance redressal needed

What are the causes of stress among defense personnel?

Operational stressors

• Longer deployments in CI/CT operations and continued exposure to high-risk environments (including extreme weather, challenging terrain, and limited access to basic necessities in remote postings) also contribute to stress.
• More than 50 per cent of the Indian Army personnel are under severe stress, according to a United Service Institution of India (USI) study. Officers are prone to cumulative stress than JCOs and ORs, the study said.
• Long and frequent separations from family members during combat operations and field postings reduce contact with family and friends, which affects mental health.
• Unsocial working hours, irregular shifts and high operational pressure require constant alertness and quick decisions under stress, putting additional strain on officers.
• Job-related anxieties among non-officers are heightened by short-term employment (through the Agnipath Scheme) and uncertain career prospects.
• Combat casualties and combat trauma Seeing fellow soldiers injured or killed causes psychological trauma.

Non-operational stressors

• It include leadership and administration problems (e. g., unfair promotions, lack of recognition and leadership gaps).
• Conflict with superiors and subordinates, including humiliation, disrespect, and interpersonal tension
• Frequent moves and short command assignments result in instability in both career advancement and family life.
• Pay and Status (rank downgrading and financial dissatisfaction)
• Denial of Leave & Over Workload Due to delayed / rejected leave applications despite of emergencies
• Personal freedom is limited by the school’s ban on mobile phones and strict rules on discipline.
• Inadequate infrastructure and support include low-quality rations, no recreational facilities, and inefficient administrative support.
• Also, the harassment of service members' families at home adds to their stress.
• Mental health stigma means some people don’t seek psychological help because they think they’re weak.

Also Read: Def Min Rajnath Singh calls for ‘targeted solutions and countermeasures’ in India’s expanding defense sector

Step to mitigate

• Periodic Stress Assessments: Expand ongoing studies (e. g., the DIPR initiative) to identify and address emerging stressors.
• Use technology for mental health support Chatbots powered by AI, telemedicine services (National Tele Mental Health Programme and Kiran Helpline) and mobile apps can provide real time mental health support.
• Family Support Programs - Counseling, financial planning courses and well-being programs for personnel's families.
• Facilitate lateral entry of retiring soldiers into paramilitary forces, police and public sector undertakings (PSUs) for regular post service employment and expand the scope of the Self-Employment Scheme for Ex-Servicemen and Widows of Servicemen.
• Better grievance redressal. Set up a time bound mechanism in the lines of the Right to Information Act of 2005 to address the issues of soldiers efficiently.