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FIREFIGHTERS were called to a record number of suicide attempts in England last year, official figures show.
The country’s 45 fire and rescue services responded to 1,969 suicides or attempted suicides in the 12 months to September 2019, Home Office statistics revealed yesterday.
It is the highest number for any year since records began in 2011 and an increase of 9 per cent on the year before.
The callouts are part of a growing number of “collaborating incidents” which fire stations have to respond to alongside other emergency services since the Policing and Crime Act became law in 2017.
Vicki Nash, head of policy and campaigns at mental health charity Mind, said of the rise: “Although those working within fire and rescue services are trained to attend these kinds of events, the effects of witnessing trauma can, in some cases, be severe and long-lasting.
“So it’s crucial staff are able to access support for their mental health from their employer.”
A spokeswoman for the National Fire Chiefs Council said it was “vital” that firefighters have access to support.
