Mental Health Awareness Week: Do you know the signs of fatigue?

15 May 2023

The new chair of West Midlands Police Federation’s Health and Safety Committee is calling for members to recognise the signs of fatigue as he emphasises the importance of speaking out if officers feel they are struggling.

Patrick McBrearty is raising awareness of fatigue in line with Mental Health Awareness Week, which is taking place this week (15 - 21 May).

He says that officers need to be aware of the difference between feeling fatigued and stressed while reminding members that they have a responsibility to speak to their line manager if they feel they are burnt out.

“While the long-term impacts of fatigue can be similar to stress, it’s important that our officers understand as much as possible the difference between the two, mainly so you can take the most appropriate action,” said Patrick.

“If someone is stressed, they might be feeling angry, overwhelmed, anxious, depressed and worried. These feelings might then result in physical symptoms, like panic attacks, difficulty breathing and muscle aches, for example.

“On the other hand - and while the two share similar signs and symptoms - a person who is fatigued tends to be totally and completely burnt out. For example, if an officer has had six days off and they are still tired, and their body cannot cope, this tells me it is fatigue.

“Simply put, fatigue is an overwhelming sense of tiredness that doesn’t get better, even when rested.”

Patrick McBrearty, chair of the Federation health and safety committee.

Patrick is urging officers to make themselves aware of these symptoms and, if any sound familiar, to contact their line manager immediately.

“The thing is, officers have a responsibility to speak out, for their safety and the safety of the community,” he explained, “Fatigue can lead to potential mistakes being made - and that’s the problem.”

Patrick’s comments follow the launch of Target Fatigue, a new initiative by the national Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW), which aims to improve awareness of fatigue across forces while reducing the associated risks that fatigue poses.

Target Fatigue has been designed to be an accessible resource for all officers, that will grow and develop over time.

“I need our members to know that they are protected by law if they are feeling fatigued. In fact, employers have a legal obligation to manage risks from fatigue, irrespective of any person’s willingness to work,” Patrick continued.

“So, if you are feeling fatigued, speak out and always remember to file your near-miss reports, that’s key too. Your line manager cannot legally ask you to carry on working - and if they do, you need to log it, because, in the event of anything happening, they will be liable, not you.

“You know you’ve done your due diligence if you’ve spoken up.”

Patrick is urging members to not only speak out but reach out this Mental Health Week.

He ended: “Officers are continuing to feel huge pressure and demand, it’s no wonder fatigue and poor wellbeing is so prevalent.

“If you feel you are struggling, please speak out - talk to somebody. And, if you notice a colleague that a colleague is showing any sign that they are finding things difficult at the moment, reach out to them.

“This is a reminder that simply asking somebody if they are OK can make the biggest difference.”

Some of the main symptoms of fatigue include: