"It's hit us harder than we expected" - South Yorkshire firefighters face mental strain of pandemic
Most across the UK told a new survey their mental health has got worse during Covid
A union says the mental pressure of the pandemic has hit South Yorkshire firefighters harder than they ever feared.
New stats show almost two thirds of fire and rescue staff across the UK have seen their mental health get worse during the pandemic and 1 in 5 now say they'd describe theirs as 'poor' or 'very poor'.
Matt Nicholls is Chair of South Yorkshire Fire Brigades Union - he says the job's always been one with risks but Covid changed things:
"Those risks are specific to you as the individual. What the pandemic saw was suddenly the risks you accepted as part of your role you were potentially taking those back to your home and to your loved ones. And I think that's added to the pressures that are out there. I think it's hit us all harder than we expected.
"The role pre-pandemic was a very stressful role. Adding the uncertainty of a pandemic into that where they went into situations where they were potentially taking risk back to their family members and loved ones, all that combined with the restrictions we've had in place, has left us where we are now.
"It's fundamental that we need to have as much support as we possibly can. Because ultimately the firefighters that we're dealing with today are potentially going to be our firefighters for the next twenty or thirty years. We need to take as many steps as we can to protect their mental health so that we have a strong fire service moving forward."
The new survey was conducted by mental health charity Mind’s re-launched Blue Light Programme and found that mental health has worsened across all 999 services.
Funded by The Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, the Blue Light Programme brings together The Fire Fighters Charity, The Ambulance Staff Charity, Police Care U K and Mind to further the mental health and wellbeing of the UK’s emergency responders.
Dr Jill Tolfrey, Chief Executive of The Fire Fighters Charity said:
“We commend Mind and the Blue Light Programme on the publication of this latest research, which once again highlights the incredible pressures faced by those who work across our fire and rescue services.
“Covid-19 has amplified these pressures for many on the frontline and brought new mental health challenges for others. As ever, our role at The Fire Fighters Charity is to ensure that we are always here for those in need. While we have had to move our mental health services online during the pandemic, we have supported thousands through virtual consultations over the past year and will continue to do so, while also bringing back our face-to-face services over the weeks to come."
Firefighters struggling with mental health problems are being urged to come forward for support.
Matt from South Yorkshire FBU has the message for anyone who's finding things tough:
"You're not alone. Pick up the phone - speak to the Firefighter's Charity, speak to the Fire Brigade Union, speak to South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue. We're all in this pandemic together and we will find a way out of it together."