Essex Fire Service Records High Mental Health Absences Amid Union’s ‘Epidemic’ Claim

New data indicates that Essex County Fire & Rescue Service (ECFRS) recorded 85 employee absences over the last year, attributed to mental health conditions such as stress, depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorder. This situation has been described by a union as a “mental health epidemic” among its personnel, according to figures acquired by the BBC. The Fire Brigades Union stated that fire crews are being “asked to do more with less,” which has resulted in “transient and unstable” working conditions. Conversely, an ECFRS spokeswoman suggested that the rise in staff sickness partly stems from an enhanced culture encouraging the reporting of mental health concerns. A Freedom of Information request revealed that out of the 85 individuals signed off during the year ending September 2024, nine later departed from the service. ECFRS also provided data for the year ending September 2019, showing 82 employees were signed off, with 51 of those subsequently resigning or retiring. Across both specified years, the data indicated that 92 firefighters experienced absences related to stress. Riccardo la Torre, a national officer for the Fire Brigades Union, commented that insufficient investment has created a “postcode lottery” regarding fire coverage. He asserted, “There is a mental health epidemic across the fire and rescue service, and Essex is no exception.” He further elaborated, “Every year, firefighters are asked to do more with less. They’re being mobilised to incidents over longer distances, with less equipment and fewer people. They regularly arrive too late or with inadequate resources.” In May, the BBC reported that ECFRS expended £350,000 in 2023 to address staffing deficits on thousands of occasions. This involved crews being requested to traverse the county to provide cover for colleagues, undertaking journeys such as from Waltham Abbey to Braintree and from Hawkwell, near Southend-on-Sea, to Witham. Mr la Torre additionally stated: “On a personal level, it makes people’s working lives even more transient and unstable than they otherwise would be – exacerbating a situation already made difficult by the cuts.” He concluded, “No amount of counselling can address the root causes of this crisis, we need to remove the hazard.” ECFRS had previously informed the BBC that its resources are deployed flexibly to guarantee optimal public protection. In March, HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) instructed ECFRS to enhance the values and culture it fosters. The inspectorate’s report also noted a 26% increase in the average number of days not worked per firefighter due to short-term sickness during the year ending 31 March 2023. The ECFRS spokeswoman affirmed that the service regards the mental health of its employees “very seriously.” She stated, “We are committed to fostering a culture of acceptance where our staff feel safe to speak about their mental health without stigma.” She added that “The increase in the number of staff signed off due to mental health issues reflects a growing recognition of the importance of mental wellbeing in the workplace, particularly in high pressure roles.” She further mentioned that “significant strides” have been achieved in advancing mental health awareness, encompassing access to counselling services and the provision of mental health first aiders.