30% increase in Surrey officers being signed off with stress, anxiety, depression and PTSD

25 October 2022

Surrey Police saw a 30% increase in police officers being signed off with stress, anxiety, depression and PTSD in the past year.

160 police officers were signed off at the force in 2021/22, compared with 123 the previous year. 

The figures were concerning but not surprising, Nolan Heather, acting Chair of Surrey Police Federation said. 

He said: “There is so much pressure on officers now, who are expected to do more and more with less than less. There are so many expectations on officers today; there is real complexity in policing, due to degree complications, the seriousness of what they are investigating and the continuous scrutiny they are under. It all has an impact. There are so many things that are impacting people's welfare, I’m not surprised we are seeing these figures.” 

Nolan said there was good occupational health provision at Surrey Police for officers who are struggling, and that they are entitled to six counselling sessions a year that they should take up if they need them. 

He said even though recent years have seen more conversations held around mental health, there is still some stigma, but that officers shouldn’t be afraid to speak up if they falter. 

He added: “We need to create a culture where people who are struggling feel comfortable to say so. I do think there's still probably from a good number of people a reluctance to admit that they are struggling and need some help. And that is alarming. But if someone says to their line manager that actually they are struggling, and they need some help, they could probably do a lot more intervention to prevent them from going off sick. You could put them on restricted duties, or refer them to someone, as the sooner they get help, the sooner they can recover. And that can prevent them from taking time off sick.” 

Nationally, 13,263 officers were signed off sick with stress, anxiety, depression and PTSD, according to the latest figures. 

Belinda Goodwin, Wellbeing Secretary of the Police Federation of England and Wales, said she wasn’t surprised by the high figures when officers were under so much pressure.

She said: “We need to ask: what should the 21st-century cop be dealing with? We’re so often at mental health calls, spending more time sitting on guard at hospitals. The brunt of it is that all areas of policing are so under strain, it’s unbelievable.”