Rape, murders, torture, arson, acts of terrorism and even genocide: if there is one thing police and justice staff know, it is that humanity’s cruelty and destruction knows few bounds. In their jobs, the professionals working to bring offenders to justice are routinely exposed to traumatic experiences through written witness accounts, video footage or recordings. And there is increasing concern that the systems in place are failing to protect them.
In Europe, the figures are alarming. In 2022, mental health issues led police officers in England to take 730,000 days of sick leave – up from 320,000 in 2012/13. In Spain, 28 committed suicide – 21.4% less than in 2021, but the second worst figure since records began. This climbs to 78 suicides in France when including prison guards, while Greece recorded 159 suicides among police forces in 2019. The situation is compounded by the stigmatisation of opening up about mental health issues, where officers fear that it could lead them to be seen as weak or deny them the chances of career progression.
