DG CISF reviews ‘Project Mann,’ over 75,000 personnel benefited from mental health initiative

Director General of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), R.S. Bhatti, on Tuesday reviewed the progress of Project Mann, a mental health initiative for CISF personnel that has benefited over 75,000 members of the force so far.

Also present on the occasion was Neerja Birla, Chairperson of the Aditya Birla Education Trust (ABET), which is conducting the mental health awareness programme in collaboration with the CISF. The partnership began with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in November last year.

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The DG appreciated the role of mental health professionals in supporting CISF personnel through awareness building, counselling, clinical interventions, and training. He emphasized that mental well-being is a crucial component of an individual’s overall health.

According to official data, Project Mann has extended support to 75,181 CISF personnel and their families to date.

A total of 1,726 CISF officers and sub-officers have been trained to identify and manage low-risk mental health issues and to escalate more serious cases to professional counsellors. This two-tiered structure has made psychological support more accessible at the grassroots level.

In hyper-sensitive units of the force, over 31,000 personnel have undergone psychometric assessments to facilitate early identification of potential mental health concerns.

The initiative has led to counselling and interventions in cases involving depression, marital discord, financial stress, and other psychological challenges.

Notably, the suicide rate in the CISF has fallen below the national average in 2024 and 2025, underscoring the positive impact of the programme.

Highlighting the significance of the initiative, DG Bhatti remarked, “Mental health is as mission-critical as physical fitness for the personnel. This initiative strengthens our internal support systems and ensures that our personnel remain emotionally resilient, focused, and operationally ready.”

Neerja Birla added, “Our long-term partnership with CISF is a testament to what can be achieved when mental health is institutionalized.”