• GRA General Secretary Pat Ennis pointed out the problems
• He said pressures on garcia have caused a number of deaths
• The rank and file gardai will undergo a well-being survey

DUBLIN, Ireland - Pointing to the pressures being faced by gardai, GRA General Secretary Pat Ennis said that with the pressures being at an all-time high, it has caused a number of deaths.

With this in mind, the Garda Representative Association is seeking to have all the rank and file gardai undergo a well-being survey in a bid to confront depression and suicide in the Force.

GRA marked the National Workplace Wellbeing Day last week, announcing that it is set to launch its "Member Wellbeing Survey.”

According to officials, this is the first significant survey of members of the GRA in 20 years and is set to be carried out under the direction of Dr Finian Fallon of City Colleges, Dublin.

At the GRA conference in late May 2018, an independent report of Dr Fallons' findings from the survey will be published, by which time the survey will be completed.

Commenting on the initiative, Pat Ennis, General Secretary of the GRA, said, "It contributes to moving ahead with an essential conversation about the well-being of our members and will provide evidence for the kinds of supports our members need."

He added that the pressures on gardai are at an all-time high and has caused a number of deaths.

Explaining further, "Internal operational pressures and external life demands make the experience of many of our members susceptible to very high stress levels. We have experienced the tragic loss of a number of our colleagues recently and we commiserate deeply with their families, colleagues and friends.”

Ennis said, "These losses may be indicative of underlying personal challenges in the force. This survey will point us towards solutions and demonstrate to members how seriously I and the Association take these critical issues."

According to Dr. Fallon, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder affects a third of all frontline emergency service personnel.

He explained, "The GRA has demonstrated a progressive and member-focused approach in agreeing to this survey. Worldwide surveys of this type demonstrate a high level of stress and trauma among policemen and women.”

Adding, "With significant symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, perhaps a third of first responders are what I describe as 'walking wounded' from a wellbeing perspective. We need to quantify these issues in the Ireland context, and begin measuring how effectively they are dealt with over time."