Support quality, independent, local journalism…that matters

From just £1 a month you can help fund our work – and use our website without adverts. Become a member today

The Fire Brigades Union has declared a crisis as new data shows a rise in firefighters taking time off due to mental health issues.

South Wales Fire and Rescue Service (SWFRS) recorded a total of 476 staff absences due to mental health between 2021 and 2024, with the figure rising year on year.

In 2021/22, data provided by Accident Claims Advice found that 144 staff absences were recorded, 79 of which were cited as being due to ‘stress’ while a further 20 were logged as ‘anxiety’ and 17 for ‘stress at work.’

In 2023/24, the figure reached a three-year-high with 186 SWFRS staff mental health absences recorded – a rise of 29% compared with 2021/22.

The Fire Brigades Union general secretary, Matt Wrack, said: “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.

“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.”