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Abstract
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The theme of this year's World Mental Health Day is making mental health and wellbeing for all a global priority, yet we must not lose sight of the importance of supporting the mental health and wellbeing of healthcare staff. In particular we want to shine a light on the seldom discussed issue of healthcare staff suicide, and the nuanced link between suicide, mental health and other risk factors. It's important to discuss what targeted action would help to address the pressures faced by healthcare staff and give them the support they need. Our new podcast marking World Mental Health Day 2022 also looks at the importance of focusing on the mental health and wellbeing of other groups of individuals and the particular impact of health inequalities, both in driving mental health needs and impacting access to mental healthcare.1
The suicide rate among medical professionals is 24% higher than the national average in England and Wales, with suicide risk highest among female nurses and doctors and male paramedics.2 This is a deeply concerning toll and it is vital that we understand the risk factors and ensure that we are caring for those who care for us.
In the past, explanations of deaths by suicide tended to focus on individual mental health problems, but recent research has sought to understand more about risk factors and the role of the wider social context in suicidal behaviour.
Although often linked with mental health, it is important not to conflate the two. Suicide is rarely due to a single individual factor, and people who do attempt suicide are often more exposed to a range of issues such as financial stress, poor work life balance, and feelings of isolation. Certain groups of individuals are also at greater risk of suicide and suicidal ideation.
Longitudinal evidence shows healthcare professionals are at a greater risk of death by suicide than other professions.3 Analysis has found female nurses are nearly a quarter more likely to be at risk of suicide compared to females in other professions, while ONS data reveals that a common explanation for the high risk of suicide in occupations like health include having access to lethal drugs, suggesting that means and knowledge of harm can have an impact
Language: en |