Mental health-related absences in Police Scotland have surged, raising alarms about the state of policing in the country
Edinburgh: The situation in Police Scotland is getting pretty serious. Over the last five years, the number of days lost to mental health issues has jumped by more than 50%. That’s a huge concern.
According to new stats, officers have taken off a staggering 440,630 days due to mental health problems like anxiety and stress. It’s clear that burnout is becoming a real issue, especially with fewer officers and more demands on them.
To put it in perspective, the days off for mental health reasons went from 63,797 in 2019/20 to 96,509 in 2023/24. That’s a rise of 51.3%! And just this year, between April and September, they’ve already lost 52,432 days.
In response, Police Scotland is putting £17 million into a welfare package, which includes a 24/7 support program. Justice Secretary Angela Constance mentioned that they’re getting record funding to help boost the frontline.
David Kennedy, the general secretary of the Scottish Police Federation, wrote about this in 1919 Magazine. He pointed out that mental health support is still lacking, despite officers facing traumatic situations regularly.
He stressed that it’s not enough to just recognize the problem; real investment in mental health services is crucial. Things like peer support and counseling need to be prioritized.
Kennedy also warned that if nothing changes, the impact will be felt across all communities in Scotland. He called on those in power to step up and make policing a priority.
The Scottish Liberal Democrats, who got these stats through a freedom of information request, are pushing for more support for officers. Liam McArthur, their justice spokesperson, highlighted how many officers feel overwhelmed.
Constance defended the government’s efforts, stating they’ve invested record amounts into police funding this year. She noted that Scotland has more police officers per capita than England and Wales.
She also mentioned that the Chief Constable expects officer numbers to rise soon, and emphasized the importance of wellbeing programs for officers.
