Workplace pressures ‘contributing’ to nurse suicide risk
More and more nursing staff are struggling with suicidal thoughts and workplace pressures are a contributing factor, new research by the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has revealed.
Between January and June 2024, the RCN saw a 76% increase in calls to its advice line from members experiencing suicidal ideation when compared with the same period in 2023.
“This is a very serious issue that requires the full attention of ministers and employers”
Nicola Ranger
The 166 inquiries received by the RCN in the first six months of this year from nursing staff feeling suicidal was also a 29% rise from the 129 received in the previous six months.
Meanwhile, between 2022 and 2024, the RCN recorded a 200% rise in “high-risk” cases in its counselling service for members. These high-risk cases involved nursing staff who needed immediate safeguarding and intervention due to their level of mental health distress.
After conducting further research into what might be driving this increase, the RCN has found a number of “contextual and influencing factors” that those seeking help had in common.
One of the top factors was “workplace pressures”, which was cited by 69% of the 352 nursing staff with suicidal ideation who the RCN supported through its counselling service between February 2022 and February 2024.
“Overwhelming pressures, workloads and expectations of achievements impacted the workforce,” stated the report, which was published today and is titled Understanding the factors underpinning suicidal ideation amongst the UK nursing workforce from 2022 to 2024.
It added: “There were references to experiences of bullying and unkindness in the workplace, with members stating that the workplace had a direct impact on their stress levels and mental health.”
Other factors included being investigated by the Nursing and Midwifery Council or subjected to internal work-related investigations, bereavement and sickness in themselves or their dependents.
A general decline in their mental health was also commonly cited by nursing staff feeling suicidal, which may have been influenced by workplace pressures or personal factors such as domestic abuse, divorce, financial worries, drug or alcohol issues and menopause, or a combination of both.
While most people who contacted the RCN with suicidal ideation were registered nurses, there was an overrepresentation of nursing support workers, which the college noted was concerning and something that needed investigating further.
In response to its new findings, the RCN has launched what it described as a “groundbreaking pilot scheme” with Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust to develop new standards for employers on preventing suicide, focused on creating compassionate working environments.
The RCN Compassion in Practice pilot will then be used to develop a UK-wide framework and standards, which the college will make available to every employer across the health and care system.
Nicola Ranger
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.”
She said the RCN was pleased to be launching its pilot with Oxleas, and added that the national standards that it was working towards were “desperately needed”.
“Nursing is a brilliant and rewarding career, but it can also be physically and emotionally draining,” said Professor Ranger.
“Whilst suicide is a complex issue, employers have an important duty of care towards their staff, to provide a healthy working environment, ensuring pressures at work do not become too great and push people into a mental health crisis.”
Rachel Evans, chief people and strategy officer at Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust, noted that the project aligned well with the ambitions in its new strategy for 2024-27.
“We know that we will only deliver great care if we take the very best care of our brilliant nursing staff and all our people,” she added.
The new findings by the RCN add to existing research which has established that registered nurses are at a higher risk of suicide compared to the general population.
Meanwhile, during the Covid-19 pandemic, Nursing Times launched the Are You OK? campaign to highlight the mental health needs of nurses before, during and after the pandemic.
If you, or someone you know, is struggling to cope and need someone to talk to, Samaritans offers 24-hour support – call 116 123. Alternatively, email jo@samaritans.org for a less-immediate response.
