In another reply, Mr Singh said there has been no rise in the number of personnel leaving defence services after 20 years of service, except for sailors in Navy. (AFP Photo)

There have been 69 cases of suicide in the Indian Army this year besides an incident of fratricide, the government said today.In a written reply to Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Defence Rao Inderjit Singh said reasons for such incidents include occupational hazards, family issues, domestic problems, perceived grievances, personal issues, mental built, financial problems and inability to withstand stress.As many as 334 Army personnel have committed suicide since 2012 besides eight cases of fratricide in the same period, he said.The Navy and Air Force has witnessed 12 and 67 cases of suicide since 2012 respectively. The Air Force has also reported one case of fratricide."A large number of officers have been trained, as counsellors, to provide psychological counselling to the defence personnel and their families," the minister said."Civilian psychological counsellors have also been employed, to provide mental health services. A psychologist visit units and formations from time to time and carries out psychological counselling, individually and at times in groups," the Minister said.In another reply, Mr Singh said there has been no rise in the number of personnel leaving defence services after 20 years of service, except for sailors in Navy."This is largely due to availability of alternate vocations," the Minister said.