Cambridgeshire Fire & Rescue Services sees a rise in staff absences due to mental health
Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service (CFRS) has seen a rise in staff absences amid what the Fire Brigade’s Union is calling a “mental health crisis.”
Data obtained by Accident Claims Advice (ACA) via a Freedom of Information Request to the service has also found that stress, depression, anxiety, and work-related stress were the common conditions cited for staff mental health absences in the last three years.
Between 2021 and 2024, a total of 99 Cambridgeshire Fire Service staff took at least one day off work due to mental health.
Of those, ‘stress’ accounted for around 42% of mental health absences, keeping in mind that more than one condition can be cited as the reason for absence.
Depression was the second most common mental health condition listed, accounting for around 22% of mental health absences. While ‘work-related stress’ accounted for an estimated 10%.
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.”
Of those Cambridgeshire Fire staff who took time off due to mental health in the year 2021/22, 22% went on to leave the service, decreasing to 14% the following year.
However, in the last year, between 2023/24, 26% of Cambridgeshire Fire staff who took time off due to mental health went on to leave the service.
While it cannot be confirmed that the reason for leaving is associated with mental health, the FBU says the ‘crisis’ within UK Fire Services must be addressed.
Secretary Matt Wrack added: “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.”
Accident Claims 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.
