Suicides among health workforce rising, warns shadow minister

A Labour MP has confronted the government over a “clear” rise in suicides and self-harm among frontline health and care staff during the coronavirus pandemic.

Dr Rosena Allin-Khan, shadow mental health minister and a practising A&E doctor, said “real-time data” was needed on suicide numbers to gain a greater understanding of the prevalence of the issue and to intervene accordingly.

“Increasingly, NHS staff are breaking down – I see it first-hand working shifts"

Rosena Allin-Khan

In a letter to health and social care secretary Matt Hancock, Dr Allin-Khan sought assurances over the immediate and long-term psychological support available to nurses and other professionals tackling Covid-19.

On Friday, Nursing Times editor Steve Ford asked Mr Hancock similar questions during the daily coronavirus briefing as part of a campaign we are leading.

Covid-19: Are You Okay aims to ensure the mental health needs of nurses during the crisis and beyond are on the radar of employers and the government.

In her letter, Dr Allin-Khan, Labour MP for Tooting, said: “As I speak to my colleagues across the country and in our unions, it is clear that there is a rise in suicides, self-harm and suicidal ideation among frontline NHS and care staff.

“It is vital that in order to tackle this, there is real-time data to understand where particular pinch points may be and where resources need to be directed.”

She asked Mr Hancock for clarification on how the government planned to monitor the issue and what help was on offer for frontline workers dealing with suicidal thoughts.

Other issues raised by Dr Allin-Khan included the need for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) support and the benefit of talking therapies for all staff.

She noted that PTSD could present “months and even years” after the event as staff came to terms with what they had been through.

“We understand the huge pressures they and their families are facing”

DHSC spokesperson

Even when the threat of Covid-19 had disappeared, staff would be under increased pressure from a “backlog” of patient demands that had been deprioritised during the crisis, said Dr Allin-Khan.

She said the health and care workforce had “gone above and beyond for the safety of our country” but warned that many were paying the price with their mental wellbeing.

“Increasingly, NHS staff are breaking down – I see it first-hand working shifts,” Dr Allin-Khan said in the letter.

“From a fear of spreading the virus to patients and loved ones, a lack of PPE, an increased workload owing to the number of cases and staff absences, to being redeployed to ICUs and witnessing more patients die - staff are experiencing greater pressure, which is inevitably taking its toll on their mental health.

“At this time of crisis, staff mental health must be a priority now. It simply cannot be an afterthought once the acute stage of the crisis is over.”

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “Supporting the mental health and wellbeing of our heroic staff during this unprecedented period is a top priority, and we understand the huge pressures they and their families are facing.”

The spokesperson said a “range” of support services were available to staff covering “practical and financial assistance through to specialist bereavement and psychological support”.

They added that anyone struggling should speak to a colleague, their occupational health team or use the new mental health helpline launched last month by NHS England.