Staff absences related to mental health issues at Dorset and Wiltshire Fire Service (DWFS) have resulted in a staggering financial burden of over £500,000 in the last three years, new figures have revealed. The ongoing crisis in firefighter mental health has raised concerns across the UK, with the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) calling for urgent action to address the issue.
According to DWFS, 186 staff members took at least one day off work due to mental health-related reasons between 2021 and 2024. The most common causes of these absences included work-related stress, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety. The cost of these sick leave hours has steadily risen, reaching an estimated £266,242 in the past year alone.
The financial impact is compounded by the fact that many firefighters who take time off for mental health reasons end up leaving the service altogether. In the 2021/22 period, 11% of those who took mental health leave subsequently left DWFS. This percentage grew significantly in the following years, with 30% leaving in 2022/23 and 41% in 2023/24. These figures suggest a worrying trend, where mental health challenges are not only affecting firefighter well-being but also leading to increased staff turnover.
FBU General Secretary Matt Wrack commented on the alarming situation, stating, “We are facing a mental health crisis in the fire and rescue service. Attending traumatic incidents is an unavoidable part of the job for firefighters, and without proper mental health support, this takes a severe toll.” Wrack emphasized that mental health provision for firefighters is currently inconsistent across the UK, with many services struggling to offer adequate resources for those in need.
The financial toll on DWFS is stark, with the estimated costs of hours lost to mental health sickness rising from £117,835 in 2021/22 to £201,509 the following year. The increase reflects the growing strain on both staff and resources. However, these figures exclude on-call staff, meaning the true financial impact could be even higher.
The FBU has pointed out that the ongoing cuts to fire and rescue services over the past decade have exacerbated the mental health crisis. “Firefighters are being pushed beyond their limits to keep the public safe,” Wrack added. “Responding to life-or-death situations without adequate resources is intensely stressful, and we need central government investment to rebuild the service and address this crisis.”
As the DWFS and the wider fire service sector continue to grapple with this mental health crisis, calls for increased funding and better mental health support are becoming more urgent. The situation highlights the need for systemic change to ensure the well-being of those who risk their lives to protect the public.
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