One in 10 health workers felt suicidal during pandemic, study finds

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. NHS staff need to feel confident that, when they flag concerns, especially about patient safety, these concerns are listened to by their managers and that the concerns are being addressed Professor Paul Moran, University of Bristol The first survey found 10.8% of workers reported having suicidal thoughts in the previous two months, while 2.1% had attempted to take their own life in the same period. Paul Moran, professor of psychiatry at the University of Bristol’s Centre for Academic Mental Health and one of the study’s lead authors, told the PA news agency: “A supportive work environment is very important for staff wellbeing. Dr Prianka Padmanathan, honorary research fellow at the University of Bristol’s Centre for Academic Mental Health and another of the study’s lead authors, said: “Our analyses show that among healthcare workers who had not experienced suicidal thoughts when first completing the survey, one in 10 reported experiencing them six months later. But sometimes the nature of the job can increase stress and strain on the individual Professor Sir Simon Wessely, King's College London Professor Sir Simon Wessely, chief investigator for the survey and professor of psychiatry at King’s College London, said: “Let’s not forget that having a job is usually better for our mental health than not having a job.