OFFICERS in West Yorkshire took more working days off last year due to psychological disorders - but police say this is in line with the rise in employee numbers in 2022.

New figures from West Yorkshire Police, obtained through a Freedom of Information request, found that police officers in West Yorkshire took off 24,004 days due to psychological disorders between April 1, 2022, and November 30, 2022.

In the year April 2021 to April 2022, 18,908 working days were taken off by officers for the same reason.

These figures suggest the workforce is on track to meet the highest number of workdays taken off due to psychological disorders since data first started being collected in 2015.

Psychological disorders incorporate absences for anxiety, bereavement anxiety, chronic fatigue syndrome, depression, hypertension, insomnia, nervous debility, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, shock and stress.

The force has highlighted that police officer numbers have grown, with the biggest increases taking place from 2017 to 2018 and from April 2022 to December 2022.

Another reason the figures may seem high is that West Yorkshire Police ‘actively encouraged officers and staff to speak out if they have been suffering from mental health related issues or conditions’ - something the Force says is reflected in the data.

The Force is pleased with the change it’s seeing in workplace culture as more officers are willing to come forward and say they need help.

West Yorkshire Police are also working to tackle issues earlier on so officers get the timely support they need, which could result in less time off work.

A spokesperson for west Yorkshire Police said: “West Yorkshire Police is committed to providing a safe, healthy and positive working environment, including supporting the psychological wellbeing of our people. 

“Policing is acknowledged to be an extremely challenging profession in which officers and staff can experience real trauma, and we have policies and process in place to support individuals who may be absent and enable them to return to work as soon as possible. 

“Since 2016 police officer numbers have grown with the biggest increases taking from 2017-2018 and April 2022-December 2022. 

“These increases are in line with the biggest jumps in absence, with the growth in reports reflecting increases in the number of employees.

“In recent years we have also actively encouraged officers and staff to speak out if they have been suffering from mental health-related issues or conditions, and this is also reflected in this data.

“It is well known there was previously a tendency for staff to try and ‘bottle up’ issues they may be suffering from, and we are pleased this change in culture has taken place with more staff feeling it is OK to come forward and say they need help. 

“Early intervention (and feeling it is okay to ask for support), is encouraged so that people are able to get the support they need. 

“If this does result in absence from work, an earlier intervention could often lead to a shorter absence from work than an absence an officer may eventually need if they tried and cope with issues alone for an extended period of time.”

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