Members of An Garda Síochána have taken 8,600 sick days for mental health reasons since the beginning of 2021. 

Thus far this year, 37 Gardaí have taken sick leave because of illnesses such as stress and anxiety - missing some 3,400 days of work as a result.

While in 2021, 47 officers were out of work due to similar issues - and they missed over 5,200 days.

Over the two years, 447 Gardaí have had psychiatric or psychological assessments with the Garda Occupational Health Service.

A lamp sign outside a Garda Station in Cork City.

“Everyday being [on the] frontline, working with people who sometimes can be a danger to yourselves, you are kind of in a threat mode,” clinical psychologist Malie Coyne described. 

“I mean it’s an incredibly difficult job and I suppose many people who go into that type of work might be more likely to be helpers - which means that they sometimes look after their own mental health needs less.” 

An Garda Siochána told Newstalk that the welfare of its staff is of paramount importance and added that there is a 24/7 independent counselling service that members can contact.

Maim image: A member of An Garda Síochána. Picture by: Stephen Barnes/Law and Order / Alamy Stock Photo