Big rise in nurses trying to take their own lives due to burnout

Hundreds of nurses were driven to ‘point of no return’ last year due to intense pressures and burnout, says mental health charity

Hundreds of nurses tried to take their own lives last year, with many feeling at a ‘point of no return’ amid intense pressures and burnout, a mental health charity says.

Data from the Laura Hyde Foundation (LHF) shows a dramatic increase in the number of nurses attempting suicide in the past two years. Some 366 nurses are known to have tried to take their own lives in 2022, a 62% increase from 226 in 2020.

A new Oxford University study also found substantial evidence that nursing professionals, especially women, are at a higher risk of suicide than the general public as a result of heavy workloads, bullying, understaffing and feeling ill-prepared to do their jobs.

Living costs, poor working conditions and bullying also play a part in decline of nurses’ mental health

The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show 482 nurses took their own lives between 2011 and 2021 in England.

LHF, set up in memory of Royal Navy nurse Laura Hyde, who died by suicide in 2016, also said unrelenting pressures, soaring living costs, poor working conditions and bullying are playing a part in the decline of nurses’ mental health.

The charity’s trustee chair Liam Barnes told Nursing Standard that many nurses reported feeling guilty about quitting because they felt they were letting colleagues and family down.

Superhero complex makes nurses feel it is unacceptable to be struggling

‘Because of ongoing stresses, whether it be sheer exhaustion, bullying or having to potentially cut corners in their work, nurses are getting to a point where there is no return. It’s weighing them down,’ Mr Barnes said.

‘There seems to be this horrible superhero complex placed on nurses that it is unacceptable to struggle, and that is part of a culture that has to change.’

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Mr Barnes urged nurses not to be ashamed of feeling stressed and to seek help either through workplace initiatives or charities such as LHF and Samaritans.

He said signs a colleague might be struggling with their mental health include irritability, appearing quiet or anxious, acting recklessly or not wanting to be around other people.

Mr Barnes added that managers should avoid well-being tick box exercises, such as telling nurses to take more breaks without addressing staffing issues. ‘We don’t want fruit in a bowl, that’s not well-being support. Line management needs to be trained and supported appropriately to have an open dialogue with staff in a way that is fit for purpose for all staff roles. One size does not fit all.’

• RELATED: Nurse resigns on Twitter, saying he can’t work in NHS any longer

RCNi well-being centre

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