Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue Services sees a rise in staff absences due to mental health

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

 Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) has seen a rise in staff absences amid what the Fire Brigades Union is calling a “crisis across the UK’s fire and rescue services.”

Data obtained by Accident Claims Advice (ACA) via a Freedom of Information Request to the service has also found that work-related stress, depression, anxiety and PTSD were the most common conditions cited for staff mental health absences in the last three years. 

Between 2021 and 2024, a total of 458 Greater Manchester Fire Service staff took at least one day off work due to mental health.

In 2021/22, 147 staff absences due to mental health were recorded at the Fire Services, with 88 of those cited as being ‘stress-related’, a further 18 were logged as due to ‘anxiety’ and 11 more were marked as ‘stress (other).’

Of the 145 mental health absences in 2022/23, 85 were ‘stress-related’. A further 21 were logged as ‘stress (other) and 12 were due to ‘anxiety.’

The picture remained similar in 2023/24, with 11 ‘stress-related’ absences, a further 11 marked as ‘stress (other) and 16 absences due to ‘anxiety.’

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 Greater Manchester Fire staff who took time off due to mental health in the year 2021/22, 10 per cent went on to leave the service, soaring to 22 per cent the following year and falling slightly to 15% in 2023/24.

While it cannot be confirmed that the sole reason for leaving is due to 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.”

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.