Strategic mental health collaboration between Aditya Birla Education Trust and CISF shows tangible outcomes, including suicide rates. 

Underscoring the growing focus on mental health within India’s security forces, Project Mann, a joint initiative between Mpower — an Aditya Birla Education Trust (ABET) initiative and the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), has successfully extended mental health support to over 75,000 CISF personnel and their families.

During a joint review held recently, Neerja Birla, Founder and Chairperson of ABET, and R.S. Bhatti, IPS, Director General of CISF, evaluated the ongoing impact of Project Mann. This initiative was formalised under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in November 2024 and has since become a cornerstone in institutionalising mental well-being within the CISF.

Building Emotional Resilience on the Ground

The project’s approach integrates mental health into the CISF’s operational ecosystem through awareness campaigns, psychometric screenings, and a two-tier support system involving trained personnel and professional clinical teams. So far, 8,506 officers and sub-officers have been trained to recognise early signs of distress and escalate critical cases, ensuring psychological care reaches the grassroots level.

Notably, 21,000 personnel deployed in high-stress zones — including IGI Airport, Delhi Metro, and the Parliament — underwent detailed psychometric assessments for proactive mental health management. These evaluations have played a pivotal role in identifying cases of depression, interpersonal stress, and financial anxiety, enabling timely interventions.

Data-Driven Impact and Marked Decline of Suicide Rates

Project Mann’s success is further evidenced by a significant reduction in suicide rates among CISF personnel, now below the national average for the years 2024 and 2025. This outcome reinforces the importance of sustained, structured mental health initiatives in paramilitary and law enforcement organisations.

Leadership Endorsement

Speaking on the initiative, DG CISF, R.S. Bhatti emphasised, “Mental health is as mission-critical as physical fitness for our personnel. This initiative strengthens our internal support systems and ensures our teams remain emotionally resilient and mission-ready.”

ABET’s Founder & Chairperson, Neerja Birla, highlighted the long-term vision of the programme, stating, “Our continued partnership with CISF is a reflection of what can be achieved when mental wellness becomes an operational priority. Project Mann has demonstrated measurable results through counselling services, peer engagement, and a 24×7 helpline across India’s CISF units.”

According to Birla, the programme has contributed to a 40% reduction in suicide cases, pointing to the positive outcomes of embedding mental health frameworks within security institutions.

Mpower, backed by ABET, is a comprehensive mental healthcare platform committed to reducing stigma and delivering accessible, multidisciplinary care. With clinical centres in Mumbai, Bengaluru, Goa, and Pilani, Mpower is leading the movement to normalise mental health dialogue in India.

Aditya Birla Education Trust is a philanthropic organisation that champions education and mental health. From pioneering inclusive education through the Aditya Birla World Academy and The Aditya Birla Integrated School, to empowering educators via the Aditya Birla Education Academy, ABET stands at the forefront of nurturing India’s next generation.

Also read: FUJIFILM India Launches ENDOVEDA™, Clinical Reporting Platform in Gastroenterology

Looking Ahead

As the need for robust mental health support systems becomes more evident in the high-pressure environment of paramilitary forces, Project Mann is being seen as a replicable model across other national security institutions. The continued collaboration between ABET and CISF is poised to further deepen the culture of psychological safety and emotional resilience across India’s uniformed forces.

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