27% Of Frontline Gardaí Could Be \"Walking Wounded\" From Trauma

A new survey commissioned by the Garda Representative Association (GRA) has found that overall, 27% of gardaí on the frontline could be \”walking wounded\” as a result of trauma.

It was discovered that just over one in six (16%) members of the force could have Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), while 11% may be suffering from sub-threshold PTSD.

The findings were presented by the pyschotherapist Dr Finnian Fallon, whom carried out the survey, at the annual GRA conference today in Co Wexford.

Out of the 5,828 officers sent out the GRA Wellbeing Survey 2018, a little over 2,200 responded.

The top ten Wellbeing findings were as follows:

• Feeling frustrated by the amount of paperwork involved with the job.
• Not having the right equipment to do the job properly.
• Believing that senior officers and managers don\’t appreciate the challeneges.
• Witnessing nepotism in appointments to jobs/roles within the force.
• Having to work unsocial hours that impact on family and friends.
• Having insufficient training on the technical skills required for work.
• Always feeling physically tired because of the hours worked.
• Believing that the overall remuneration package is inadequate.
• Feeling undervalued for contribution to the wider force.
• Having too many work demands to be effective in the role.