Concerns have been raised over the number of Kent fire service staff who have been off sick for mental health reasons.
In the past three years, 162 employees took at least one day off due to mental health concerns, a freedom of information request revealed.
Accident Claims Advice highlights that work-related stress, depression, and anxiety have been the leading causes of mental health-related absences among KFRS staff
It comes as the number of those subsequently leaving the service more than doubled over the same period.
The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) says deep budget cuts have pushed firefighters “beyond limits to keep the public safe”.
General secretary Matt Wrack said: “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.
“Despite the evidence that firefighters are struggling, fire service mental health provision is patchy across the UK. After a decade of cuts to the fire and rescue service, firefighters are being pushed beyond limits to keep the public safe.
Kent is in line with the national trend of an increase in mental health absences across UK fire services. Picture: KFRS
“Responding to life-or-death situations without adequate resources is intensely stressful.
“To address this mental health crisis, we need central government to provide the investment needed to rebuild the service.”
Accident Claims Advice’s (ACA) data highlights work-related stress, depression, and anxiety have been the leading causes of mental health-related absences among staff in Kent over the last three years.
Between 2021/22, the service recorded 62 mental health absences, with 16 cases attributed to anxiety and 46 to stress.
This dropped to 47 absences in 2022/23, with 18 cited as anxiety-related and 29 as stress-related.
KFRS has 1,500 staff members. Picture: KFRS
However, the number rose again in 2023/24, with 53 absences recorded, including seven attributed to anxiety, seven to depression, five marked as ‘other’, and 34 to stress.
The data also shows a significant increase in the proportion of staff leaving the service after taking time off for mental health reasons.
Of the 62 staff who reported mental health-related absences in 2021/22, 11% subsequently left the service. This rose to 17% in 2022/23 and climbed further to 28% in 2023/24.
From the data, Kent is inline with the national trend of an increase in mental health absences across UK fire services.
While the reasons for leaving cannot be solely attributed to mental health issues, the FBU says the figures underline a growing crisis within the fire service.
A Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) spokesperson told KentOnline “attitudes have changed” towards mental health and people are now “more comfortable” asking for help.
Between 2021 and 2024, 162 KFRS employees took at least one day off work due to mental health concerns. Picture: KFRS
“KFRS is very proud of the 1,500 hard-working and dedicated people who make up our workforce.
“Our crews work in exceptionally challenging environments to help keep the public safe.
“We are fully committed to promoting and protecting our colleagues’ health, safety and wellbeing.
“The figures show that we have had fewer ‘mental health-related’ absences in the last two financial years than we did in 2021/22.
“Attitudes have changed towards mental health in the last few years and more people feel far more comfortable to ask for help.
“We take health and wellbeing extremely seriously and have a comprehensive range of packages available to our teams.
“This extends from urgent support needed immediately, general advice and occupational health and counselling for all our colleagues.
“In addition, all operational crews are offered trauma support after an incident, as well as access to support through external providers.
“We support each and every one of our colleagues in their recovery and their return to work. Every single one of our team matters to us and we care deeply about their welfare.”
ACA, which provides support and advice to those affected by mental health issues, offers a 24-hour helpline and live chat service on its website.