New Delhi: The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has extended its Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Mpower, a mental health initiative of the Aditya Birla Education Trust (ABET), for an additional three years under Project Mann.
The renewal follows the successful rollout of the initiative, which has provided psychological support and counseling services to CISF personnel and their families across India.
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Project Mann: Expanding Mental Health Support for CISF
Launched in November 2024, Project Mann has reached over 75,000 CISF personnel and their families in its first year. The initiative has contributed to a measurable decline in suicide rates within CISF, now below the national average in 2024 and 2025.
Currently, 23 clinical psychologists and counselors from Mpower provide services across 13 CISF sectors. With the extension of the MoU, this number will increase to 30. The program will also expand to new locations, including Patna, Ahmedabad, Prayagraj, Bhopal/Indore, Jammu, Chandigarh, Jaipur, and Cochin.
Recognized Impact of Project Mann
The mental health initiative has been widely acknowledged for:
- Reducing stigma associated with mental health.
- Promoting early help-seeking behavior.
- Building emotional resilience and coping strategies.
- Ensuring access to care in remote and high-security areas.
- Helping reduce absenteeism, burnout, and long-term psychological issues.
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DG CISF R S Bhatti emphasized: “The well-being of our personnel is paramount to maintaining operational excellence. Through our continued partnership with ABET, we aim to ensure that our force remains mentally resilient, emotionally strong, and fully prepared for meeting the challenges of national security.”
Neerja Birla, Chairperson and Founder of Mpower, Aditya Birla Education Trust, added: “At Mpower, we believe mental health is central to overall well-being. The partnership with CISF under Project Mann has been deeply impactful, and we are committed to expanding services so that every CISF personnel and their family has access to care and support.”
