Recently released data indicates ongoing mental health challenges among South Africa’s first responders, with 54 South African Police Service (SAPS) personnel reported to have died by suicide during the 2024/25 reporting period.
According to figures cited in an independent report, this equates to roughly one suicide every week. Over the past seven years, 300 police suicides have been recorded nationally.
The South African Society of Psychiatrists (SASOP) has raised concerns about mental health pressures among police officers, paramedics, emergency nurses, doctors, firefighters, and rescue workers. The organisation attributes these challenges to prolonged exposure to trauma, limited resources, and insufficient access to mental health support.
SASOP spokesperson Dr Alicia Porter said that first responders are often exposed to distressing situations such as violent crimes, domestic disputes, serious accidents, and natural disasters. ‘Workers on the frontline are disproportionately susceptible to adverse mental health outcomes,’ she said on report sent to Cape {town} Etc.
A study released earlier this year found that 47.3% of police members and paramedics met the diagnostic criteria for depression, 37.8% for generalised anxiety disorder, and 48.5% for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). By comparison, the estimated rates in the general population are 9.8% for depression, 15.8% for anxiety disorders, and 2.3% for PTSD.
Separate studies have reported that one-third of ambulance personnel in the Western Cape experience PTSD, while burnout affects many paramedics and emergency room doctors in Gauteng. Around 30% of advanced life support paramedics reported total burnout, and 63% indicated burnout linked to work or personal stress. More than two-thirds of emergency room doctors in Gauteng were identified as being at high risk of burnout due to long and irregular shifts.
‘Underneath the uniforms are people facing the same mental struggles as many of us, but their work environment repeatedly places them in high-risk situations,’ Porter said.
She added that improved access to mental health care and reduced stigma around seeking help are essential to retaining skilled emergency personnel.
The Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Police has previously expressed concern about the adequacy of employee health and wellness programmes within SAPS. The most recent available figures show that 621 health and wellness employees are available to support a workforce of more than 187 000 personnel.
Porter noted that stigma and perceptions of weakness remain barriers to seeking help in uniformed professions. ‘The fear of being perceived as unfit for duty, should they seek help for trauma or mental health issues, exacerbates these challenges,’ she said.
South Africa continues to face a wide mental health treatment gap, with between 75% and 90% of people estimated to lack access to appropriate care, according to public health data.
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Picture: Frennie Shivambu / Gallo Images
