For immediate mental health support please call Samaritans on 116 123
A significant increase in nurses seeking support for suicidal ideation has sparked a fresh call on employers to reduce workplace pressures.
A new report from the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) – published today on World Suicide Prevention Day – warned workplace issues and demands were contributing to a ‘mental health crisis’ among nursing staff across the UK.
Figures from the RCN showed a 79% rise in nursing staff seeking support from its advice service for suicidal ideation, compared to the same period in 2023.
It also found that more than two-thirds (69%) of those who had contacted the RCN advice line for suicidal ideation between February 2022 and February 2024 said workplace issues were a key factor in why they were seeking help.
The RCN’s report describes how nurses are being placed under ‘extreme pressure’ at work, with workload, bullying, and a lack of work-life balance given as the main factors contributing towards suicidal thoughts.
The college has today renewed its call on health and social care employers to address the situation and reduce work pressures on staff.
The RCN also pointed to the distress felt by staff going through formal proceedings.
Earlier this year, an independent culture review into the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) found that six nurses and midwives had died by suicide in the last year while under a fitness to practice (FtP) investigation.
The RCN is partnering with Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust on a pilot to review how changes to workplace culture can improve staff wellbeing, including mental health.
The pilot will be used to develop a UK-wide framework that will be available to every employer across the health and care system.
The news comes after the suicide prevention charity Samaritans said suicide should be treated as a public health crisis, with latest Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures showing the highest rate since 1999.
RCN general secretary and chief executive, Professor Nicola Ranger, said: ‘It’s becoming increasingly clear that workplace pressures are contributing to a rise in suicidal thoughts among nursing staff.
‘This is a very serious issue that requires the full attention of ministers and employers.’
‘Happy and healthy workplaces are the bedrock of quality care, and we desperately need a national set of standards across all health and care settings in the UK,’ she added.
‘These must be built around compassion and prevention and encourage staff to seek support, ensuring mental health interventions are effective and timely.’
Report recommendations to reduce suicidal ideation in the workplace:
- Every organisation must have designated staff to support at-risk individuals, and all HR staff, personal tutors, and occupational health clinicians should undergo training in suicide awareness and prevention
- Employers should report to the Health and Safety Executive in cases where work is a contributing factor to suicide
- Every workplace must create a ‘compassionate culture’ which puts nursing staff wellbeing first and allows staff to raise concerns and talk about mental health issues without stigma, so they can receive the support they need
- Governments must commit to fully funded mental health support for all nursing staff, provided by every employer.
For immediate mental health support please call Samaritans on 116 123.
