THE number of officers signed off through stress, depression, anxiety, stress or post-traumatic stress disorder has increased at Essex Police.<\/p>\n
A total of 285 officers were signed off in the financial year ending March 2015, compared with 276 the year before.<\/p>\n
Mark Smith, Chairman of Essex Police Federation, said the organisation was working with the force on the issue.<\/p>\n
Of the 285 officers were signed off, 237 were police constables, 35 were sergeants and 13 were inspectors.<\/p>\n
And of the officers signed off in the last financial year, 190 were suffering from stress.<\/p>\n
Nationally, one in 20 police officers took time off sick in the last financial year \u2013 that is 6,278 police officers. This is up from the previous year, when 5,460 officers were signed off.<\/p>\n
Mr Smith said: \u201cWe are trying to work with the force on this. It\u2019s very difficult when forces, certainly Essex and I\u2019m sure many others, find it very hard to recognise PTSD. We\u2019re struggling for them to actually recognise PTSD as a permanent disability.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe recognise the amount of problems we\u2019re having through stress and how that\u2019s gone up. Cuts Have Consequences. And the consequences are many and varied.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhether the consequence is us not being able to give the service to the public, or the health of our officers is suffering.\u201d<\/p>\n
Emergency workers are far more likely to suffer from mental illness than those in other professions, according to the mental health charity Mind, and they are even less likely to get support.<\/p>\n
Resourcing is to blame for the increasing number of stress-related sick days, according to the Police Federation of England and Wales. John Murphy, of the Federation\u2019s Health and Safety Sub Committee, paints a picture of a role where officers spend hours alone, with little support, little back up and little job satisfaction.<\/p>\n
Mr Murphy, a Met officer, said the job has changed. He said: \u201cThere are fewer officers doing all the same work. And it is not all about crime. It is dealing with sudden deaths, negotiating with people in crisis, welfare checks and so on.<\/p>\n
\u201cA lot of stress comes from the constant workload. People are going from call to call to call. There is a lack of service that officers feel they are giving because they don\u2019t have time. Reducing the number of officers means there are fewer people to do that work.\u201d<\/p>\n
Deputy Chief Constable Andy Rhodes, the NPCC\u2019s lead on wellbeing and engagement, said: \u201cUndoubtedly all the issues of reducing numbers and occupational health department cuts are relevant to those suffering.<\/p>\n
\u201cStress is a health epidemic of the 21st century and we must react quickly to help our officers and staff through tough times. We know from a range of surveys and research that, on top of what can be by its very nature a stressful job, the levels of uncertainty and change within the service are increasing stress levels.\u201d<\/p>\n
Other help is available in the meantime. If you need confidential advice or support on any of these issues, call Mind\u2019s Blue Light Infoline on 0300 303 5999.<\/p>\n
Mike Penning, Police Minister, said: \u201cPolicing, by its very nature, is a stressful and demanding job and it is the responsibility of chief officers \u2014 with help from the College of Policing \u2013 to ensure that police officers and staff are supported in their work.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis Government is doing all it can to make it easier for the police to do their job. We have cut red tape and unnecessary targets to free up police time, given officers discretion to use their professional judgement and are working across government to stop the police having to pick up the pieces when other public services are not available.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe proportion of police officers and staff on short, medium and long-term sickness fell between 2010 and 2014, according to Her Majesty\u2019s Inspectorate of Constabulary. But we should never be complacent. That is why, last October, we allocated \u00a310 million to help support emergency services personnel and volunteers, focused on mental health, physical recuperation and bereavement support.\u201d<\/p>\n
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