Indian Navy has new suicide prevention policy in place, defence ministry tells Lok Sabha
India Today
A comprehensive policy to prevent suicides among serving naval personnel has been in force since April 12 this year, the Ministry of Defence told Parliament.
The Indian Navy has put in place a policy to address the issue of suicides among service personnel, the Ministry of Defence informed Parliament on Tuesday, July 19.
A comprehensive policy to prevent suicides among serving naval personnel was promulgated on April 12 the Ministry of Defence said.
The strategy is called Indian Navy Strategy for Mental Health Assistance Resilience and Training or IN-SMART. A toll-free suicide helpline is available exclusively for Indian Navy personnel at INHS Asvini, the flagship Hospital of the Indian Navy,.
“Psychological Counselling is also provided at the Department of Psychiatry at large naval stations. Apart from the posted psychiatrist, clinical psychologists and counsellors are hired for the purpose,” the defence ministry said.
The Ministry of Defence gave out the numbers of suspected suicides in the armed forces over the last five years.
Army: 642
Air Force: 148
