‘We need to invest in mental health support’

10 October 2024

Dyfed Powys Police Federation’s wellbeing lead says a two-pronged approach is needed to wellbeing with 40 per cent of current officer sickness attributed to mental health conditions.

Dai Gaskins said policing needs to ring-fence a proportion of its budget to support officers experiencing a mental health issue such as anxiety, depression, or trauma.

And he called for a study to be carried out to try to establish why more officers than ever are signed off with mental ill-health so that changes can be made.

Dai said: “Some 40 per cent of current sickness is attributed to mental health.

“They’re not all work-related, some of it is bereavement, family illness, relationships, but some of it is work related and some of it is PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder).

“I would like to see some work done looking at why we have such a high number of officers sick within the whole police service due to psychological issues.

“And I think a part of the policing budget should be set as a priority to provide proper services for people who are ill as a result of exposure to trauma because I think it’s only going to get worse.”

 

The theme for World Mental Health Day is mental health at work.

 

Dai said he was particularly concerned for officers who are the subject of conduct proceedings who often have nowhere to turn for mental and emotional support.

“I have cops coming to me who have mental ill-health and are the subject of misconduct proceedings,” he said.

“They can access the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), but bespoke support and treatment is limited.

“They can’t access police charities, NHS waiting lists are so long for a diagnosis and treatment plan. They’re in this abyss of nowhere to go.”

Dai’s comments come on World Mental Health Day (Thursday 10 October), the theme for this year is mental health in the workplace.

Recent figures revealed by Police Oracle via a Freedom of Information Act request showed that across the UK, 14,508 officers were signed off in the 2023-24 financial year with stress, anxiety, depression or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The national figure is nine per cent up on last year and 130 per cent higher than when Police Oracle first ran its survey 11 years ago, when 6,294 officers were signed off for poor mental health.

Concern

“It’s a real concern, which is why we need to find out why we have such high numbers,” Dai said.

“In one way it could be a positive in as much as officers are reaching out for help because it’s okay to not be okay.”

Dai said there could be a number of reasons – or even a combination of them – including repeated exposure to trauma, the loss of social settings such as canteens to debrief after a job, and the loss of experienced officers.

He said: “In the past, we’d do a job, come back and have a cup of tea, and debrief the situation in a way we understood as a team, but that’s been eroded for different reasons.

“Officers want to go home, they don’t want to spend time in work longer than they need to, but then they may be left in a situation where they are isolated and unable to process their thoughts.

“Also, the profile of the service has changed and perhaps there isn’t that depth of experience to share with your group, which in the past may have helped officers to cope with exposure to trauma.

“We are younger in service, and younger officers may well be more comfortable putting their hands up and saying they are struggling, which is a real positive.”

Ask Twice

Members can access resources through the Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW) #AskTwice campaign, which aims to develop a culture that positively addresses mental health and wellbeing in the police service.

Members are encouraged to ask how their colleagues are and, if they are not convinced by the answer, to ask twice.

The campaign brings together assets to offer support and guidance in areas such as bereavement, financial wellbeing, and suicide.

The online resource will grow over time as new information and advice is added to it.

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