ESSEX County Fire and Rescue Service (ECFRS) has seen a rise in staff absences due to mental health in the last four years amid what the Fire Brigades Union is calling a “crisis across the UK’s fire and rescue services.”
Data obtained by Accident Claims Advice (ACA) via a Freedom of Information Request to the service has also found that stress, depression, anxiety and work-related stress were the common conditions cited for staff mental health absences in the last four years.
Between 2021 and 2024, a total of 294 Essex County Fire Service staff took at least one day off work due to mental health.
Of those, ‘stress’ accounted for around 54 per cent of mental health absences, keeping in mind that more than one condition can be cited as the reason for absence.
‘Anxiety’ was the second most common mental health condition listed, accounting for 18 per cent of mental health absences, while ‘depression’ made up around 10 per cent and ‘trauma’ was cited as the reason for 4 per cent of mental health absences.
The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) General Secretary, Matt Wrack, told ACA: “We are facing a mental health crisis in the fire and rescue service. Since attending traumatic incidents is an unavoidable part of the job for firefighters, mental health support is vital.”
Accidentclaimsadvice.org.uk offers a specialist service for anyone looking for support and advice after being affected by mental health.
They operate a 24-hour helpline and live chat service which you can access on their website.