Alarming Surge in Psychiatric Cases Among Central Armed Police Forces

Chandigarh: The Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) have seen a concerning surge in reported psychiatric cases over the past three years. Data from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) shows that the number of cases has increased by 39.23%, from 3,548 in 2020 to 4,940 in 2022.

The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has the most cases, with 4,858 during this period. The Border Security Force (BSF) follows with 3,559 cases.

The CAPFs are responsible for border guarding, internal law and order duties, and internal security in the northeast. They have a combined strength of approximately 10 lakh personnel.

However, there are only 14 psychiatric doctors across five forces, with the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) having none on its roster. This is a major concern given the demanding nature of the CAPFs’ duties, prolonged family separation, and exposure to stress during security, disaster management, and anti-naxal operations.

To address this growing concern, all CAPFs have implemented various corrective measures. These include regular health check-ups, thorough medical examinations, prompt treatment for detected illnesses, and referral to specialists in well-equipped hospitals when necessary.

Individual health records are also maintained for periodic review, and yoga has been incorporated into physical training to reduce stress and anxiety among personnel. Workshops are also conducted to sensitize medical officers and paramedical staff at the unit level for early identification and intervention.

In addition to these efforts, the CAPFs are engaging the services of psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, and counsellors for regular counselling in collaboration with other government institutions and medical facilities.