The latest data reveals that police officers in the United Kingdom are grappling with mental health issues, prompting them to take time off in record numbers.
Last year, 14,508 cops, almost 8.5% of the UK police force, took leave due to various mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, stress, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
This marked a 9% increase in police officers taking leave for similar concerns in 2022 and a 130% rise compared to 2012.
Hayley Aley, the co-lead of the Police Federation of England and Wales’ wellbeing division, suggested that officers are always exposed to tough working conditions and trauma while lacking the necessary resources, which is contributing to the persisting mental health crisis among the force.
She stated that an officer witnessing ten deaths in road accidents every month is always prone to developing trauma, adding that there are not enough protective measures to safeguard officers from constant exposure to traumatic incidents.
However, Aley was encouraged by the increasing number of officers willing to speak up about their mental health issues instead of silently battling them, stating that the stigma associated with reporting mental health struggles is now fading away.
The data also found that officers belonging to 31 out of 43 wings of the UK police force took more time off in 2023 compared to the year before.
The West Midlands Police Force, the fourth largest force in the UK, comprising almost 8,000 officers, reported 1,128 cops going on mental-health-related leave, the most in the UK.
On the other hand, Police Scotland, the second largest force in the UK, reported 1,110 cases of leave, while 1,028 officers of Greater Manchester, the third largest force, signed off due to mental health concerns.
Some of the forces are disproportionately affected by the ongoing mental health crisis. The Cleveland police force saw a 526% rise in the number of officers taking mental-health leave, and the Dorset force reported a rise of 343% in these incidents.
The wellbeing lead of the National Police Chiefs’ Council, Andy Rhodes, explained that even when policing is a fulfilling career where officers are able to help citizens on a daily basis, it brings its own set of challenges.
Rhodes stated that officers often find themselves in hostile working conditions, which take a toll on their mental health. He went on to say that almost 300 police officers were injured in the recent anti-immigration protests in the UK, while countless others had to endure mental trauma.
Police officers around the world are more prone to developing mental health issues, particularly depression, burnout, and PTSD, compared to the general public.
