Indian army focusing on mental health of soldiers through Disha Kiran : Lok Sabha

Disha Kiran, a social enterprise founded by IIT-IIM alumni and Army veterans, is playing a crucial role in providing mental health solutions in India including the Indian Army. Known for its expertise in psychometric assessments for career, hiring, and mental health solutions, the organization has earned recognition for its contributions to the defence sector. The founder and CEO of Disha Kiran, Col (Dr) Andy Anil who is a renowned mental health activist is an Army veteran and alumni of IIT Delhi and IIM Ahmedabad.

This recognition was highlighted during a session in the Indian Parliament on 20th December 2024. Responding to the query, Shri Sanjay Seth, Minister of State for Defence, acknowledged the use of a psychometric assessments developed by the Disha Kiran to screen risk-prone personnel with intention of imparting timely and appropriate intervention for Indian Army soldiers. During the question hour in the Lok Sabha Advocate Dean Kuriakose, a Lok Sabha M.P., raised a question about the steps being taken to address stress-related mental health issues among troops.

The minister also informed the Lok Sabha that additional initiatives have been undertaken by the Indian Army by introducing psychometric assessment at recruitment stage (pilot project done by Disha Kiran at five different recruiting zones of Indian Army viz Rohtak, Siliguri, Patna, Pune and Kochi) and the introduction of psychometric assessment for recruits at their training centres from training year 2024-25 (15 training centres completed by Disha Kiran). The Indian Army had earlier informed that this was a critical step in addressing “stress and psychological issues and reduce suicides and fratricides in the force”.

The Indian Army’s proactive measures and Disha Kiran’s innovative approach mark a critical shift in prioritizing mental health in high-stress professions. While the armed forces have traditionally focused on physical training and endurance, this partnership demonstrates the growing recognition of psychological well-being as an essential part of a soldier’s readiness.

Disha Kiran has conducted more than 4 million assessments in the past 4 years which includes mental health assessments for Indian Army and Air Force soldiers and their children, career assessments for students of schools and colleges, hiring assessments for Indian Army and large corporates, counselling and therapy for various organisation including Indian Institute of technology, Delhi. Disha Kiran’s tools are designed to detect early signs of mental health challenges, allowing timely intervention. By early identification of these issues and providing necessary support after that, Disha Kiran has helped millions of people from falling into depression thereby preventing suicides.

The acknowledgment of Disha Kiran’s efforts in Parliament underscores the importance of mental health solutions in strengthening the nation’s defence forces. By addressing mental health challenges head-on, Disha Kiran is not only improving the lives of soldiers but also contributing to the overall safety and resilience of the armed forces. The CEO of Disha Kiran Col (Dr) Andy Anil has made it his mission to help as many people and organisations as possible to deal with mental health challenges and provide them with tangible and pragmatic solutions.

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Source: PTI