Dorset Fire Service reveals cost of mental health absences
It's cost the Service over half a million pounds in the last three years
It's estimated absences related to mental health illnesses has cost Dorset's Fire Service half a million pounds over the last three years.
During that period, 186 members of staff have had time off due to mental health, with 51 subsequently leaving the Service.
Work related stress, anxiety and PTSD are all among the many reasons for people requiring time away from work due to mental health illness.
In 2021/22, DWFRS (Dorset and Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service) spent £117,835 on mental health sickness, with that figure rising to £201,509 in 2022/23.
Last year, it jumped more than £60,000 to £266,242.
A Service spokesperson said: "At Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service, the health and wellbeing of our workforce is incredibly important to us, and as such we have invested in a range of preventative mechanisms such as trauma risk management for our operational crews after an incident and reactive support including occupational health and counselling for all our staff, as well as access to support through external providers.
"In 2023/24, mental health related absence was just under 20%, slightly lower than the national average of nearly 26%. Work related absences represented only 11.4% of all sickness absences during this same period.
"Robust absence management procedures are in place to support our staff in their recovery and their timely return to work.
"Our corporate target seeks to achieve average sickness levels lower than the previous five-year average, because we know absences costs the Service money.
"We are committed to regularly reviewing and enhancing our health and wellbeing initiatives to ensure they effectively meet the needs of our staff."