Metropolitan Police Officers Take Over 133,000 Sick Days Due to Mental Health Struggles
Officers from the Metropolitan Police Service have taken more than 133,000 sick days due to mental health issues, with staff blaming excessive workloads and exposure to traumatic incidents for their declining wellbeing. The stark figures, published in a breakdown by Scotland Yard, reveal that 1,998 officers were absent for a total of 133,565 days, averaging just over two months per officer.
Breakdown of Mental Health Absences
Poor mental health emerged as the most prominent reason for extended leave, with approximately 1,272 officers absent for longer than 28 days. The data shows that 7,329 shifts were lost to stress, 4,117 to depression and anxiety, 1,599 to unspecified psychological disorders, 1,049 to trauma, and 508 to fatigue. Additionally, hundreds of other officers were signed off for conditions including cancer, stroke, cardiac complaints, assault injuries, Covid-19, and pregnancy, while 140 officers took time off for headaches and migraines, two of whom were absent for more than a month.
Case Study: Former Officer's Phobia of Police Stations
The issue is highlighted by the case of former police officer Kirstie Coy-Martin, 52, who is suing for £1 million in compensation. She claims she developed a phobia of police stations after being repeatedly exposed to 'harrowing' scenes of child abuse and death during her career. Ms Coy-Martin states that her mental health was ruined by years of investigating crimes against children, including attending traumatic scenes of abuse and child death. By the end, she was so fragile that being told to attend a police station could trigger a panic attack.
Federation Chair Calls for Urgent Action
Paula Dodds, Chair of the Metropolitan Police Federation, which represents 30,000 officers in London, has called for chief officers to do more to support those struggling with poor mental health. She stated: 'Quite frankly, the support that officers get is not good enough. The provisions currently in place don't help officers – we see an average of 400-600 traumatic events in our careers, and there's no support for that.'
Mrs Dodds emphasised the need for regular mental health screening and trauma training to help officers identify when colleagues are suffering and direct them to appropriate support. She warned: 'Because what we can't have is officers considering suicide. It's unacceptable. Officers are leaving policing because they can't take it any more. Which then means those officers that remain have an increased workload and witness more trauma.'
Work-Related Stress and National Crisis
According to a recent pay and morale survey, 93 per cent of staff experiencing stress, anxiety, low mood, or other wellbeing challenges reported that work was the cause or a contributing factor. High workloads (60 per cent) and poor work-life balance (51 per cent) were most frequently identified. This crisis extends beyond London, with more than 17,700 police officers across the UK signed off for mental health reasons in 2024–25, marking a 22% rise on the previous year and a staggering 182% increase since the first survey 12 years ago.
Among the 45 forces that reported figures in both years, nearly three-quarters reported increases in mental health-related absences. For example, Police Scotland recorded 1,203 absences, while Greater Manchester Police and West Midlands Police reported 1,050 and 1,162 respectively.
Suicide Rates and Misconduct Investigations
A Channel 4 news investigation four months ago into the police mental health crisis reported that at least 100 police officers and staff have taken their own lives in three years, with male officers accounting for the vast majority of deaths. The investigation found that officers are expected to absorb trauma while projecting resilience, often with little consistent support. The Police Federation notes that more than half of officer suicides identified since 2022 involved individuals under investigation at the time.
Families and support workers warn that drawn-out and highly public misconduct processes can push already vulnerable officers into crisis. Campaigners argue that while rooting out corrupt and dangerous officers is essential, restoring public confidence should not come at the cost of officers' mental health.
