The number of days off taken by Scottish police officers and staff suffering from mental ill health rose from 63,797 in 2019/20 to 96,509 in 2023/24, a 51.3% rise, according to figures published in ‘1919’ magazine. Between April and September 2024, a total of 52,432 days were lost due to mental health issues.
Police Scotland has agreed a £17m investment in enhanced welfare provision, including a new 24/7 employee assistance programme. David Kennedy, General Secretary of the Scottish Police Federation (SPF), which represents rank-and-file officers, said the figures are a “stark warning sign”, and he called for more action to address the issues.
“Our officers are dedicated professionals who want to do their jobs and serve their communities, but they cannot do so without the tools, resources, and support they need.
“If action is not taken to address these issues, the consequences will be felt not just by the police service but by every community in Scotland. It is time for those in power to step up and make policing the priority it needs to be.”
Since 2019, officers and staff have taken 440,630 days off due to psychological disorders, including depression, stress and anxiety. Kennedy said: “Mental health is a crisis that remains grossly under-addressed. Officers are routinely exposed to traumatic incidents, yet the support infrastructure to help them cope remains inadequate.
“Record numbers of officers have taken time off due to stress, anxiety, and PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). This is a stark warning sign. It is not enough to acknowledge the problem; we need real, tangible investment in mental health services for our officers.
“Peer support programmes, access to counselling, and proactive measures must become priorities, not afterthoughts.”
Justice Secretary Angela Constance has welcomed the chief constable’s commitment to workforce wellbeing. “We invested record police funding of £1.55 billion this year – an increase of £92.7 million. Scotland continues to have more police officers per capita than England and Wales. (Source: PoliceOracle.com)
