Please see below the answer to your request.
Initial Request:
I am currently researching PTSD and mental health across the UK emergency services. Therefore, I would appreciate it if you could assist me with several questions
1. How many firefighters have taken their own lives between 2003 and 2017 inclusive.
2. How many firefighters are currently off work sick as a result of PTSD?How long has the officer been off sick?
Less than six months
Six to twelve months
Twelve to eighteen months
Eighteen months to two years
Two years plus
3. How many firefighters are currently off sick with stress or other mental health condition?
How long has the officer been off sick?
Less than six months
Six to twelve months
Twelve to eighteen months
Eighteen months to two years
Two years plus
4. How many staff members are currently applying for ill health retirement or equivalent on the grounds of PTSD?
Final Response:
1) Two, that we are aware of.
2) This information is not recorded separately by Occupational Health or HR.
3) At the end of February 2019, there were 7 Operational firefighters off work sick with a mental health related condition. Of these, six had been off sick for under 6 months.
4) None
It may be very difficult to extract sickness absence information as PTSD is a complex disorder and may often be interwoven with other mental health conditions which may well be the primary reason for the absence ? the GP may not be aware or indeed experienced enough to recognise this particular combination. A true diagnosis of PTSD may occasionally be put on a GP certificate ? this may be retrievable from the HR systems.
In our Occ. Health department we get referrals that occasionally mention trauma as the principle issue for which the employee is being referred. From 1/1/17 to date we have received 16 referrals directly attributed to trauma, however we only began differentiating between mental health and mental health-trauma in early 2018.
Thank you for your interest in Essex County Fire & Rescue Service