Almost 9,000 mental health days off at council

The second highest reason for long-term absences was muscular skeletal issues with 1,403 days lost

Almost 9,000 sick days for mental health related absences have been taken by staff at a council in the past 12 months.

A report found staff at Buckinghamshire Council had taken 8,759 days of long term absence for mental health related issues, followed by the second highest reason of muscular skeletal issues.

The report was presented to the council, which employs 4,441 people, during a finance and resources select committee on Thursday.

Michael Bracken, Conservative councillor, said: "It just bothers me that we are still in a position where our sickness levels are as high as they are."

The report showed data for the year leading up to 30 September and defined a long-term absence as being 28 calendar days or more.

In September, 451 employee sickness absences were recorded with 71 of these long-term.

However, after a peak in July, the council said it had seen a decline.

Mr Bracken said: "I accept that the unitary council benchmark's may be even worse than us, but I don't take great comfort from that. I would expect our council to operate at the better end."

The data showed in October 2023 there had been a total loss of 8,682 days lost and a peak of 9,648 days lost in June 2024.

The authority has introduced several strategies for reducing absence including training managers to "give them the confidence to take early interventions with attendance issues" and holding "health and attendance surgeries" to further support managers.