MORE than 9,500 officers across the UK took time off due to stress, anxiety, depression or PSTD in the last year alone \u2013 a symptom of them having to \u2018do more with less\u2019 according to Essex Police Federation.<\/p>\n
The figure represents a 55% increase in the number of officers taking time out from the job due to mental health issues over the last six years.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Essex Police Federation believes the shocking numbers are a symptom of police cuts and simply having fewer officers to cope with an increase in demand.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s clearly due to having do more with less,\u201d said Federation Chairman Steve Taylor.<\/p>\n
\u201cCrime and violent crime is increasing, and in fact the only thing which has gotten smaller is the number of police officers on the frontline.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe work we do to keep our communities safe is the same as it\u2019s always been, but there\u2019s fewer of us to do it.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne of the ways working like that manifests itself is stress, strain, niggle all the issues which in a bigger organisation with a bigger workforce you get more down time to overcome, you get more reprieve from the frontline.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cancelled rest days and not getting the time off they need is an exacerbating factor while 12-hour shifts are not uncommon for Essex officers, Steve said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey struggle to get time off, struggle to get their annual leave,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey are more frequently called into large scale operations which require 12-hour duties, that\u2019s not just for specialist officers but for the home front too \u2013 we are trying to keep numbers where they are supposed to be, out in communities and protecting the public.\u201d<\/p>\n
It\u2019s important that officers recognise the symptoms of mental health in themselves and in their colleagues, he added.<\/p>\n
\u201cMental health is not a dirty word \u2013 thankfully in Essex we\u2019ve had a really mature and helpful cultural shift towards it which has encouraged officers to come forward and supervisors have had training in how to identify it.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt doesn\u2019t take away the symptoms but identifying it is a step in the right direction.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t want officers suffering in silence \u2013 a problem shared is a problem halved, so I would urge officers to seek that help, from the Federation, from the Live Well Campaign or from supervisors.<\/p>\n
\u201cLet us try and help you, don\u2019t suffer on your own.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"