Avon Fire & Rescue Crews lose more than 5,800 work days due to mental health amid ‘crisis’

“Fire fighters are being pushed beyond limits to keep the public safe,” says Fire Brigades Union

Avon Fire and Rescue Service (AFRS) has revealed more than 5,800 days or shifts have been lost due to mental health absences in the last three years.

Data obtained by Accident Claims Advice (ACA) via a Freedom of Information Request to the service has also found that the anxiety, depression and post traumatic stress were the most common conditions cited for staff mental health absences.

Between 2021 and 2024, a total of 5,858 days and shifts were lost at Avon Fire & Rescue service due to mental health absences.

Of those, anxiety and depression accounted for 2,133 days lost, while post traumatic stress was the reason for 560 absences due to mental health.

In the last three years, staff absences due to mental health are estimated to have cost AFRS a total of £841,038.

The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) General Secretary, Matt Wrack, told ACA: “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.”

Avon Fire & Rescue service also confirmed that in 2021/22, 23 per cent of staff who left the service that year did so due to ‘ill health’ – this can include but is not limited to mental health.

The following year, 13 staff members left the service but none were recorded as leaving for health reasons – the year after one member of staff left due to ill health.

Avon Fire & Rescue estimates that the average daily cost per member of staff per year was £137.44 in 2021/22, rising to £139.38 the year after and stands at £153.60 for 2023/24.

This means that the 2086 days or shifts lost due to mental health in 2021/22 cost the service around £286,768.56 rising to £244,611.90 the following year.

For 2023/24, the estimated cost of staff mental health absences to the service stands at around £309,657.60.

FBU’s Matt Wrack added: “But 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. 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.”

Accidentclaimsadvice.org.uk offers a specialist service for anyone looking for support and advice after being affected by mental health.

They operate a 24-hour helpline and live chat service which you can access on their website.

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