Mental Health in the Indian Armed Forces: A Scoping Review

Mental health is a critical yet underexplored aspect of the Indian Armed Forces. Several factors can significantly impact the mental health of the military personnel, leading to conditions such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, moral injury, substance abuse, and even suicidal ideation. The aim of the current scoping review is to systematically map the existing research on mental health in the Indian Armed Forces, identify trends, as well as uncover the active gaps in the literature. The current review adheres to the PRISMA-ScR guidelines and includes studies published in peer-reviewed journals, government reports, newspaper articles, and grey literature. The review highlights key trends in mental health research in the Indian Armed Forces, focusing on stigma and barriers to accessing care.