There is no mandatory system for recording suicides among emergency service staff, which could lead to underreporting and opportunities for prevention. Mandatory recording could reveal the true scale of the problem and enable effective, evidence-based support to protect those who protect the public.
I want the government to do this because without mandatory recording, I believe the true scale of suicides among emergency service staff is hidden, patterns are missed, and opportunities to prevent deaths are lost. I believe accurate data is essential to create effective mental health support, policies, and protections for those who risk their lives to protect the public.
Government response
The Government is committed to supporting all emergency service workers. We recognise the variances in suicide data collection and are taking steps to improve this for ambulance services and police.