BPS responds new figures showing 98 per cent rise in reported suicidal thoughts among nurses

Responding to new figures published by the Royal College of Nursing, which show a 98 per cent rise in reported suicidal thoughts among nurses compared to the same period last year, Dr Roman Raczka, President-Elect of the British Psychological Society, said:

"Staff are the lifeblood of the NHS, and these deeply concerning figures from the RCN highlight exactly why the British Psychological Society is continuing to campaign for dedicated mental health support services for nurses and all health and care staff.

"It's vital any member of the health and social care workforce having suicidal thoughts has rapid access to support from experienced clinicians to give them the help they desperately need.

"With the ongoing closures of the NHS Staff Mental Health and Wellbeing Hubs due to funding cuts, staff now face an unacceptable postcode lottery to access what can be lifesaving support, despite an increase in demand and rising severity of problems.

"The workforce is on its knees, with NHS figures showing mental health-related sickness absence rose from 23.3 per cent in January 2023 to 27.4 per cent in June 2023, accounting for nearly three million full time equivalent working days lost in the first six months of this year alone.

"With staff suffering under unprecedented pressure, we're calling on the government to provide long-term ring-fenced funding for staff mental health and wellbeing services to make sure people have rapid access to the psychological help they need."