STRESS levels among Notts Police officers have almost doubled in four years, figures suggest.
A total of 3,806 police officer working days were lost in Notts due to stress last year.
This is compared with 2,023.5 days lost in 2008. The Police Federation claimed this could just be the tip of the iceberg because so few officers admit to suffering it.
The figures were revealed after the force published a response to a Freedom of Information Act request.
Phil Matthews, chairman of the Notts arm of the federation, said: "These figures could be down to just a handful of individuals who are off long-term with serious problems – but I think lack of resources and pressure are having an effect.
"Officers are often quite reluctant to write 'stress' or 'depression' on a form because they feel it would jeopardise their future careers.
"There will be officers who are just 'off sick' but it doesn't get recorded as stress."
The figures also show that while the proportion of days lost to stress has soared, the overall number of officer sick days a year has stayed roughly the same, with 19,916 in 2012 and 19,876 in 2008.
However, the force has lost 202 police officers in that period – a fall of 8.7 per cent.
Mr Matthews added: "It's something we are keeping an eye on because people will soak up the pressure they are under and then something just cracks, like their marriage breaks up."
He added he is representing several officers who have had mental breakdowns connected to stress.
Since the 2008 figure the force has imposed a programme of cuts totalling £43 million under pressure from the Government, closing police stations, and forcing some experienced officers to retire.
A Notts Police spokesman said the force was not "untypical" of other organisations in stress being its number one reason why people were off sick. He added: "The causes of stress at work can include the nature of the work and non-work factors such as personal and home-related issues along with the economic environment."
He said the force is developing a 'stress working group' to look at what is affecting people who are stressed.
The spokesman said: "There is a wide range of support for officers and staff provided through line managers, occupational health, human resources, the Police Federation and other associations."
Stephen Regel, a principal psychotherapist at the specialist Centre for Trauma Resilience and Growth, in Thorneywood, said: "Policing is known as a high-risk profession, similar to the military.
"Even if they have got training and experience what they can experience in their jobs has a cumulative effect. There is the potential for perpetual exposure to stress."
The centre, part of NHS Notts Healthcare, specialises in research and treatment of psychological problems caused by traumatic events.
The force spokesman added: "The force has a dedicated employee assistance programme which is available to all police officers, staff and immediate family offering a free and confidential counselling support and advice service. Along with this, line managers receive regular training."
