Suffolk Police ‘determined’ to look after officer welfare as figures show rise in mental health-related absences

Suffolk Police has said it is determined to maintain officer welfare after figures showed a rise in the number of mental health-related absences.

Data obtained through a Freedom of Information (FOI) request by Accident At Work Claim UK found that 692 officers or staff had recorded an absence due to mental health concerns.

Of these, 200 were in 2022 (102 officers and 98 staff). This rose to 241 in 2023 (147 officers and 94 staff).

In 2024, the number climbed again to 251 (159 officers and 92 staff).

A Suffolk Police spokesperson said the force recognised that policing requires officers to perform roles which carry an increased risk of physical and mental harm.

They said: “The constabulary has established a range of holistic services and support to help fulfil its duty of care as an employer.

“We understand we need to do everything we can to maintain officer welfare and wellbeing and Suffolk’s senior leaders are determined to continue doing that.”

According to the data, stress was by far the biggest cause for time off, with 249 periods of absence logged in the past three years for officers, plus 148 for staff.

Nerves, depression or anxiety were next with 61 for officers and 94 for staff.

Exhaustion or fatigue (29 for officers, 32 for staff) and other psychological disorders (55 for officers and 21 for staff) were also listed.

For staff, no days were taken off due to trauma between 2022 and 2024, while six periods of absence were logged for officers across 2023 and 2024, with none in 2022.

According to Police Oracle data from 2023/24, 14,508 officers in the UK signed off due to mental health related absences, a nine per cent rise on the previous year’s 13,294.

This was 130 per cent higher than the first survey in 2012/13, the data said.

Among these reasons were stress, depression, anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

According to the FOI, 87 staff who registered absences for mental health reasons left Suffolk Police in 2022, including 42 officers. This increased to 89 in 2023, although the number of officers decreased to 39, decreasing in 2024 to 47, including 19 officers.

However, these figures include all leavers, including resignations and retirements.

“The force continually assesses to see what more can be done to provide support for those who need it,” the police spokesperson said.

These include anonymous surveys to allow officers and staff to gain insights into what people are thinking and feeling, which could inform possible changes.

The spokesman added: “In circumstances where staff are unable to return to frontline duties, we do everything we can to assist them through return-to-work programmes.

“Individuals are supported by their manager, HR advisors and our Workplace Health, Safety and Wellbeing Services and we work closely with our unions and staff associations.

“There is also an extensive programme to promote a culture of health and wellbeing to officers and staff.”