Rise in Police Officers Taking Time Off for Mental Ill Health

21 July 2025

In Gloucestershire, 172 police officers were signed off work last year due to stress, depression, anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder, a Freedom of Information request has revealed.

Across the UK, over 17,700 police officers were signed off for mental health reasons in the financial year 2024-25, which is 22% up on last year and a huge 182% higher than when Police Oracle first ran the survey 12 years ago.

Of the 45 forces that provided figures both this year and last year, 33 reported an increased number of officers being signed off for mental ill health.

But there is support out there for officers struggling with their mental health, the Chair of Gloucestershire Police Federation Adam Williams said, as he shared his personal story of overcoming trauma.

Adam said: “Policing is facing unprecedented demands, and the mental health and wellbeing of many officers is at crisis levels. There is a significant increase in the number of officers who are suffering from trauma associated with their daily work.

“I am not afraid to admit that I too have been struggling with the significant levels of trauma I have been exposed to. I have dealt with hundreds of traumatic incidents in my career, whereas most members of the public generally face three or four in their lifetime.

“I recognised that I was struggling to process the latest traumatic event I’d faced, and that I was becoming withdrawn and distant from family and friends. So I sought support from within the Federation and also from Gloucestershire Constabulary, and I have been impressed with the support I received.

“My colleague, who was also involved in the incident, has received support for complex PTSD and has been getting the therapy that he urgently needs.”

Adam added that he supported the Police Federation of England and Wales’ ‘Copped Enough’ campaign, which recognised that policing is now the profession with the highest mental health-related sickness rates.

He said: “My colleagues in Gloucestershire and I are living with this trauma and it continues to impact on our mental health. So if any colleagues are struggling, please speak up and know that there is support out there.”