Just under one in 10 Mid West cops experience long-term mental health conditions, according to ABS data

New data released by the WA Police Union reveals just under 10 per cent of Mid West cops reported experiencing long-term mental health conditions. Analysis of recently released ABS census data carried out by the union found officers in regional WA were more likely to experience mental health conditions than those in the metropolitan region. In total, 170 officers in the Mid West region were surveyed about their long-term health conditions and 14 (8.2 per cent) said they had mental health conditions, which included depression and anxiety. Across regional WA, 1366 officers responded to the survey and 99 (9.6 per cent) said they experienced mental health conditions. That figure was higher than the metro average of 7.1 per cent, with 358 out of the 5034 officers reporting similar conditions. A WA Police spokesperson said the health and welfare of all police officers and staff, and their families, was paramount. “The Health, Welfare and Safety Division is continually identifying ways to enhance the support available, to keep that support contemporary and relevant,” they said. “Policing can be a challenging environment, particularly in the response to critical incidents involving significant harm or death, and in the progression of investigations that at times are confronting.” They outlined a range of support services, initiatives and programs available to police officers and staff, and their families, including a mix of informal, formal, professional and clinical services, depending on the needs of the officer or staff member in question. “Most importantly, access to the support services, including those coordinated by external providers, can be made anonymously with all information kept strictly confidential between the person seeking the support and the person or organisation who provides the support,” the spokesperson said.