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PA MediaA former police officer has spoken concerning the lasting trauma of attending tragic incidents, pronouncing many officials have studies that stick with them “forever”.
Linzi McLaren was once talking as new statistics display that greater than 60% of law enforcement officials in Northern Ireland, who took long-term in poor health depart previously yr, cited psychological well being causes.
Figures acquired from the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) by the use of a Freedom of Information request, have additionally printed that the selection of officials who’ve taken depart over anxiousness, despair and PTSD has risen previously 5 years.
The Police Federation of Northern Ireland stated colleagues had been “suffering” on account of a loss of assets.
‘I will see him at the again seat’
Ms McLaren, a councillor who served within the PSNI for 18 years, stated maximum officials “all have one or two incidents that they will remember forever”.
“I remember attending a suicide 20 years ago. Even now, driving home at night in the dark, if I’m in the car on my own and I look through the rear-view mirror, I can see him on the back seat,” she stated.
“I remember one colleague who worked with the murder team for 30 years, and it never fazed him, every time he went to a scene no matter how graphic.
“It was once handiest when his personal youngsters become the ages of the ones sufferers that swiftly it had an enormous affect on him.”
Ms McLaren said mental health had always been a major problem within the service, but attitudes towards support have only recently changed.
“In days long past by means of, particularly all the way through the Troubles, you did not pass off in poor health with psychological well being,” she stated.
“You perhaps were given an afternoon [off] and your friends were given you a bottle of whiskey.”
PA MediaMs McLaren said some colleagues have held back on admitting the extent of their struggles for fear of how it would affect their career.
How many more officers are taking mental health leave?
The PSNI defines long-term absence as officers who have been absent from work for 29 days or more, in one period.
More than 1,700 officers took such an absence in 2024-25, more than 27% of the total police workforce.
Of that number, 1,032 are on psychological sick leave.
There has been a notable increase in the number of officers who took at least one day off work due to various mental health reasons.
- 163 officers took at least one day off work for anxiety in 2021-22 – the number was 264 in 2024-25
- 40 officers took at least one day off work for depression in 2021-22 – that number was 52 in 2024-25
- 65 officers took at least one day off work for PTSD in 2021-22 – but by 2024-25 it was 102
The number of officers who have left the PSNI directly after taking psychological sick leave has also risen.
Figures also show that 218 officers left the organisation after a period of psychological sick leave in the latest financial year, compared to 74 in 2021-22.
Ms McLaren said that these days PSNI officers were more willing to engage in discussions around mental health, but occupational health services were not able to keep up with demand.
“Our occupational well being isn’t an emergency carrier, they usually remind us of that always,” she stated.
“They [officers] have nightmares, they may be able to’t sleep, they have got were given anxiousness or despair – they usually pass to occupational well being products and services however perhaps can not get an appointment for 6 months.”
‘No real understanding of the trauma’
Ms McLaren said more and more people were turning to private health care, but some felt it was not a sufficient option for them because the experience of dealing with various forms of trauma while working as an officer is so unique.
“You also are tied to knowledge coverage, so you’ll be able to’t pass and talk about the homicide or suicide you simply attended,” she added.
“You can not pass house and talk about it along with your spouse or your youngsters.
“So there really is no other avenue or outlet to talk about what you’ve witnessed, apart from your colleagues.”
Early counselling is one thing Ms McLaren has been calling for.
“For those officers that attend traumatic incidents, give them counselling at that time in a bid to stop them from deteriorating to the point that they can no longer work,” she defined.
PA MediaThe chair of the Police Federation of Northern Ireland, Liam Kelly, stated the newest figures had been “not in the least bit surprising”.
“[Officers] are doing more with less and without adequate resources from the devolved executive, these pressures will inevitably intensify,” he stated.
“Colleagues with a number of conditions – some complex and long-term – are suffering because of both a lack of resources and a limited cadre of overburdened professionals capable of supporting and assisting them.
“The state of affairs is immensely difficult and this federation has been voicing critical worry on the loss of tangible and fast development.”
Clare Duffield, the PSNI’s assistant chief officer for people and organisational development, said: “The upward thrust in worker absence for psychological well being causes is a matter affecting many employers and sectors.
“The Police Service of Northern Ireland is no exception to this.”
She added the PSNI recognised that officials confronted “considerable and unique challenges” of their careers and the organisation was once “committed to continuously improving the range of health and wellbeing services and support” it provides.
