CISF’s Efforts to Reduce Suicide Rates Among Its Personnel

The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has successfully reduced suicides among its personnel by 40% in 2024. According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), the suicide rate for CISF personnel dropped to 9.87 per lakh in 2024, compared to the national rate of 12.4 per lakh in 2022. This marks the first time in five years that the CISF’s suicide rate has fallen below the national average.

Reasons for Suicides in CAPFs

Suicides in the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), including the CISF, are driven by multiple factors:

• Stress from work-related pressures.
• Prolonged separation from family due to postings in remote areas.
• Personal issues such as family disputes, financial problems, and health issues.
• Increasing issues like online gambling and frauds that push personnel towards extreme actions.
• Contributing Factors to Stress and Suicides: A study conducted by CISF identified the following common causes of stress leading to suicides:
• Nuclear Families: Lack of emotional support due to smaller family structures.
• Marital Problems: Marital disagreements and infidelity.
• Technology and Communication: The faster spread of negative information through smartphones.
• High Expectations: Pressure from family to meet financial and emotional needs.
• Health Issues: Personnel facing serious illnesses, including cancer, skin diseases, and HIV.
• Isolation: Loneliness and the inability to share feelings or vent out distress.

Proactive Measures Taken by CISF

The CISF has implemented several measures to address the mental health of its personnel:

• Commanding Officers’ Engagement: Officers regularly visit posts to communicate with personnel and hold daily “briefing–debriefing” sessions to identify and address signs of distress early.
• Online Grievance Portal: A new portal was introduced for personnel to express grievances, allowing senior officers (up to the Director General level) to resolve them quickly. This initiative ensures that issues are addressed promptly, contributing to the overall well-being of personnel.
• 24x7 Mental Health Support: CISF established round-the-clock tele-counselling services, alongside one-to-one personal counselling. By September 2024, over 4,200 personnel had accessed this mental health support.
• AIIMS Collaboration for Mental Health Study: CISF partnered with AIIMS, New Delhi, to conduct a comprehensive mental health study. The findings led to actionable recommendations being implemented at the unit level to improve personnel welfare.
• Improved HR Policies for Work-Life Balance: CISF recognized that issues like posting matters (which affect personal life) were major grievances. A new HR policy was introduced in December 2024 to offer choice-based postings. This policy aims to provide a better work-life balance, especially for married couples, women personnel, and those nearing retirement.