Spike in number of Tasmanian police on leave due to mental health issues
More than 100 Tasmanian police officers are currently on mental health leave, a figure that has doubled over the past five years. A coroner's 2023 recommendation for mandatory biannual mental health screenings for all officers has not been implemented. Tasmania Police maintains its Wellbeing Support program is among the best in the nation, offering targeted support for high-exposure roles.
- ▪As of February 28, 2026, 102 Tasmanian police officers were off duty due to mental health compensation claims.
- ▪In 2021, 49 officers were off work due to psychological injury, less than half the current number.
- ▪A 2023 coroner's inquest into four police suicides recommended mandatory six-monthly PTSD screenings, which have not been adopted.
- ▪Tasmania Police provides wellbeing checks for officers in high-exposure roles but not for all personnel.
- ▪Experts and union leaders say systemic changes and increased funding are needed to address rising mental health issues in the force.
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Number of Tasmania Police officers off duty due to mental health doubles in five yearsSBy Scout WallenTopic:Police17m ago17 minutes agoFri 1 May 2026 at 10:24pmA coroner's recommendation that police conduct mandatory six-monthly screenings of all officers for PTSD has not been implemented. (ABC News: Luke Bowden)In short:Tasmania Police says 102 officers are off duty on mental health compensation claims.A coroner's recommendation to conduct six-monthly mandatory well-being screenings has not been implemented.What's next?Tasmania Police says its Wellbeing Support program is nation-leading.abc.net.au/news/tasmania-police-mental-health-leave/106624152Link copiedShareShare articleMore than 100 Tasmanian police officers are currently off duty due to mental health compensation claims, a number…
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