Sky-high job vacancies, increased demand on services and stretched resources – all in the aftermath of tackling a global pandemic – have left healthcare professionals battling with stress and mental health issues more than ever before.
Almost a third of NHS healthcare staff feel burnt out because of their work and less than half claim they can meet all the conflicting demands on their time at work.
Suicide rates among healthcare professionals are also on the rise. One doctor takes their own life every three weeks, and one nurse takes their own life every week.
These distressing statistics are the key driver for the work of Doctors in Distress – a mental health charity that provides support for all UK based NHS healthcare workers to protect their mental health and prevent suicide. It was set up in 2019 by Amandip Sidhu following the suicide of his brother Dr Jagdip Sidhu, a consultant cardiologist.
We know that reducing stigma around mental health issues for staff in the health sector is crucial. Promoting a positive wellbeing support culture and ensuring employers uphold a duty of care for the mental health of their staff are essential steps. Change starts small; whether it be stopping to ask someone how their day is, or empathising with difficulties, it begins with is all about role model behaviour and the knock-on effect this can have.
Early intervention also plays a vital role in prevention, making the availability of free programmes and peer support groups for those struggling with issues such as anxiety, stress, and burnout incredibly important.
The power of talking, sharing stories and experiences with peers can help foster connection and builds a vital support network.
At Doctors in Distress, we run a burnout programme – a weekly drop-in service for anyone struggling with mental health – and webinars where a health professional shares their mental health experience.
Since we launched our first programme in 2020, we have supported more than 3,000 NHS healthcare professionals with their mental health.
We have written to the new Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting with the changes we want to see in this new government. This includes mental health training being part of the core curriculum for medical students and ensuring that reflective practice sits alongside that. We believe that if health workers' mental health is properly recognised and role modelled for those training, it will help foster a more compassionate culture in the future.
The wellbeing and mental health of all healthcare staff should be prioritised. There are many key factors that need to be improved, which can only come about with investment and new policies. However, small alterations can start today by creating a culture of being vulnerable without fear of rebuke, showing junior staff what wellbeing looks like, and helping to remove stigma by starting the conversation. Without a healthy workforce, we will not have an NHS.
On 17 September, Doctors in Distress along with NHS Practitioner Health will be holding the first ever UK annual memorial day to remember all healthcare workers who have taken their lives. We ask you to take a moment in your day to remember all those lost to suicide. All healthcare workers deserve to be remembered. Please join us.
To find out more about our charity, including how to be involved in our National Tree Memorial Campaign, visit our website.
About the author
