Thu Jan 02 17:48:56 UTC 2025: ## CISF Proactive Measures Lead to 40% Drop in Suicides

**New Delhi, January 2, 2025** – The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has announced a significant 40% reduction in suicide rates among its personnel in 2024, bringing the rate below the national average for the first time in five years. This success is attributed to a series of proactive measures implemented by the force to address mental health concerns.

According to data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), the national suicide rate was 12.4 per lakh in 2022. The CISF, however, managed to reduce its rate to 9.87 per lakh in 2024.

The CISF’s initiatives include:

* **Improved Communication:** Regular visits by commanding officers to duty posts, coupled with daily briefing and debriefing sessions, to identify and address signs of distress.
* **Online Grievance Portal:** A new online system allows for timely monitoring and resolution of grievances at all levels, up to the Director General.
* **24/7 Mental Health Support:** Access to 24/7 tele-counselling and in-person counselling services, with approximately 4,200 personnel utilizing these services by September 2024.
* **Comprehensive Mental Health Study:** A collaborative study with AIIMS, New Delhi, led to actionable recommendations implemented at the unit level.
* **New HR Policy:** A December 2024 policy change focusing on better work-life balance through choice-based postings, particularly addressing the needs of 98% of the workforce comprised of non-gazetted officers. This includes considerations for working women, married couples, and personnel nearing retirement. The policy directly tackles the issue of posting-related grievances, identified as the root cause of two-thirds of personnel issues in a recent CISF study.

While the NCRB reports a rise in national suicide rates from 9.9 per lakh in 2017 to 12.4 per lakh in 2022, the CISF’s proactive approach demonstrates a successful strategy in combating this critical issue within the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs). The force attributes the reduction to a multifaceted approach that addresses both systemic and individual factors contributing to mental health challenges.

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