London Fire Brigade is seeing a rise in stress, anxiety and depression among frontline firefighters
London’s firefighters need stronger mental health support to combat the impact of facing daily traumatic events, a new report has said.
Since 2021, the estimated total cost of sickness absence for the London Fire Brigade, which includes mental health, was £84 million, according to the London Assembly Fire Committee, who have completed a probe into the wellbeing of firefighters in the capital.
In a letter to London Fire Commissioner Jonathan Smith, they ask for stronger early intervention and better-targeted support amid rising levels of stress, anxiety and depression among staff.
This includes increased use of mental health data to tailor support to higher-risk roles, and a stronger focus on peer-to-peer support.
During the months-long investigation, the cross-party committee heard that the capital’s firefighters are increasingly facing “emotionally demanding” call outs, including a higher proportion of incidents linked to mental health or suicide, all while operating within the “busiest service in the country”.
Committee Chair and Green Party Leader Zack Polanski said: “Firefighters protect London every day. It is only right they feel equally protected when it comes to their own wellbeing.
“While the LFB has made important progress in tackling stigma and expanding support, there is more that can be done to tailor provision, strengthen peer networks and ensure help reaches those who need it most.
“Targeted, preventative support will be critical to building a resilient fire brigade fit for the future. A mentally healthy brigade is fundamental to serving London effectively.”
Mr Polanski said the committee was glad that mental health support offered by fire services has improved radically over the past two decades, but said more could be done to “elevate” the offering.
The letter, sent to the Commissioner earlier this week, also makes the economic case for more mental health support, noting that LFB Deputy Commissioner Spencer Sutcliff “also told us that ‘every pound spent on prevention for mental health (issues) will give you a £4 return'”.
Adam Taylor, National Officer at the Fire Brigades Union, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): “Firefighting is an intensive and emotionally-taxing profession, and every day we hear from firefighters who are suffering in the face of increasing, and often entirely preventable, pressures at work. Fire services have failed to tackle the problems head on and the result is an undeniable mental health crisis.
“Some services like London Fire Brigade have begun to make improvements to their mental health provision, but they fall far short of what firefighters need. Support remains inconsistent and uneven across the UK. That’s why the Fire Brigades Union has stepped in with its own research to identify the real causes of poor mental health and set out solutions for how services can best support the frontline.
“The people who risk their lives to protect the public deserve for their wellbeing to be prioritised.”
A London Fire Brigade spokesperson told the LDRS: “We recognise that due to the nature of the work, London Fire Brigade staff are more likely to be exposed to traumatic incidents than the average person. Therefore, ensuring our staff are fully supported when it comes to their mental health and wellbeing is a key priority.
“As part of this commitment to preventing and treating stress, anxiety and depression (SAD), we are focused on promoting wellbeing interventions and implementing effective and robust treatment services. Such services include trauma counselling, and Employee Assistance Programme as well as signposting to relevant support, for example the Firefighters Charity.
“We welcome the attention and support from the GLA Fire Committee on this important matter.”
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