Nearly 300 gardaí have taken sick leave due to mental illness since 2018, new figures have revealed.
Some 35 members of the force have already had periods of absence for this reason to date this year, compared to 50 during the whole of 2022.
Meanwhile, it has also emerged that 24 internal investigations are currently underway in relation to allegations of harassment, sexual harassment and bullying within An Garda Síochána.
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The figures were published by Minister for Justice Helen McEntee this week in response to parliamentary questions from Aontú leader and Meath West TD Peadar Tóibín.
“I am advised by the Garda authorities that there are 24 ongoing investigations in line with the ‘Working Together to Create a Positive Working Environment’ policy and ‘Dignity at Work’ policy,” said Minister McEntee.
These documents outline the policies and procedures for dealing with harassment, sexual harassment and bullying in the workplace within An Garda Síochána.
Data extracted from the organisation’s Sickness Absence Management System show that 295 leave periods were recorded since the beginning of 2018 due to mental health illness.
The highest annual total occurred in 2018, when 58 gardai missed work for this reason. The number fell slightly to 54 during the following year, and reduced further to 51 in 2020.
In 2021, a total of 47 gardaí were absent as a result of mental illness, rising to 50 last year. Up to October 26 this year, 35 members of the force had taken leave for the same reason.
Last year, the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI) was warned about a “mental health crisis” in the force due to a lack of a policy for helping gardaí to cope with tragic scenes and extreme violence.
Sergeant Declan Higgins of the Louth roads policing unit told the AGSI annual conference that the creation of a critical incident stress management policy should be prioritised.
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