South Wales Police recorded 449 mental health-related absences among officers and staff in 2025-26, as policing nationally continues to face growing concerns around stress, trauma and burnout.
The figures form part of wider data released by Police Oracle, showing that mental health-related absences across UK policing have continued to rise.
A total of 19,443 officers were signed off due to stress, depression, anxiety or PTSD – an increase of 9.5 per cent on the previous year.
While South Wales Police has seen a year-on-year reduction of 24 cases, the figures still highlight the ongoing pressures faced by officers and staff working in demanding and often traumatic environments.
South Wales Police Federation Branch Secretary Mike George said the figures showed that, while the reduction in mental health-related absences locally was welcome, the wider pressures facing officers could not be ignored.
Depression
“To hear that 449 police officers and staff from South Wales Police have been off sick due to stress, depression and anxiety is 449 too many,” said Mike.
“We cannot ignore the impact of repeated exposure to traumatic incidents, workload pressures, and operational demands on officers’ wellbeing and their personal lives.
“Each of those absences represents an individual officer – someone who is experiencing severe challenges impacting their mental health, family life and career.”
Mike also highlighted the importance of strong leadership and a positive workplace culture in supporting officer wellbeing, as policing nationally faces growing scrutiny over how it develops, supports and retains its leaders.
His comments come following the publication of the Police Leadership Commission report, which called for a fundamental reset in the way policing recruits, develops and supports leaders across the service.
Mike said: “The Federation has warned for some time that years of excessive workloads, limited support and a lack of investment in leadership development have contributed to experienced officers leaving the service and have placed additional pressure on those who remain.
Morale
“Poor leadership and inconsistent support can have a significant impact on officer morale, resilience and whether people feel able to speak up and seek help when they are struggling. While there are many factors that contribute to mental health-related absences, leadership, culture and the support officers receive undoubtedly play an important role.
“Officers need to feel valued, listened to and supported, particularly when they are dealing with the pressures and trauma that come with modern policing.”
The latest figures have been released alongside a Government announcement of a £2.4 million investment in police mental health and wellbeing support, designed to improve early intervention and provide additional support for officers and staff across England and Wales.
The funding, delivered through National Police Wellbeing Service, Oscar Kilo, will provide around 150,000 clinical psychological risk assessments and mental health checks each year for officers and staff working in operational roles.
It will also support the introduction of trauma-tracking systems to help forces monitor repeated exposure to traumatic incidents, as well as the rollout of the ResetU sleep, fatigue and recovery app across police forces. Funding will also continue the confidential Police Mental Health Crisis Line for officers and staff experiencing severe distress.
Wellbeing support
The Government said the measures aim to ensure police personnel receive consistent wellbeing support and that concerns are identified before they develop into crisis.
Mike added: “For South Wales Police officers and staff, the figures underline the importance of maintaining access to effective wellbeing support, reducing stigma around seeking help and ensuring those who work in challenging roles are supported before they reach breaking point.
“We welcome the latest announcement from the Government, and hope this investment is a step towards improving the mental health and wellbeing of our officers and staff.”
Crime and Policing Minister Sarah Jones said police officers and staff operate under immense pressure and that their wellbeing must remain a priority.
Andy Rhodes, Director of the National Police Wellbeing Service, said the investment represented a shift towards prevention and early support, highlighting the importance of recognising workplace pressures such as workload, bureaucracy and limited recovery time.
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