Police officers receiving PTSD support doubles in three years

Police officers receiving PTSD support doubles in three years

Liam McArthur

The Scottish Liberal Democrats have renewed demands for a full police staff survey after a new report revealed the number of officers receiving specialist trauma support for PTSD has more than doubled in the last three years.

The Scottish Police Authority (SPA) report on wellbeing also reveals that the cost of delivering specialist trauma support has risen from £69,400 in 2016-17 to £114,000 in 2018-19. The number of counselling sessions undertaken has risen from 1,130 to 1,501 (33 per cent) since 2016-17.

The party’s justice spokesman, Liam McArthur MSP, said: “This is a stark reminder that officers and staff can experience life-changing incidents in the line of duty. It is so important, therefore, that the national force is fully equipped to help people when they need it.

“The Justice Secretary and police bosses have a responsibility to ensure officers’ welfare. However, the last staff survey in 2015 revealed less than one in ten officers and staff believed the service was genuinely interested in their wellbeing.

“A repeat of this work cannot be put off any longer. It has now been pushed back and back for over a year and it’s time they had their say.

“In the interests of transparency and good governance, we need to know whether officers and staff have confidence in their organisation and feel they have the resources and support required to do their job. That’s the only way of ensuring that improvements are made where necessary.”

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