Nurses 'more at risk of suicide' as Covid takes its toll

Women on the frontline in the war against Covid-19 are said to be at heightened risk of suicide.

One in eight female nurses working in intensive care units in Surrey have considered taking their own lives, according to the county council's Suicide Prevention Partnership.

Before the virus, Surrey's rate of suicide for men was 12.3 per 100,000 population (better than the 15.5 England average), compared with just 4.2 for women (worse than the 4.9 England average).

Though men remain high risk, the partnership says Covid is adding target groups, due to an increase in isolation and despair, a probable rise in domestic abuse and alcohol use, and a loss of people's usual support systems and daily routines.

Co-chair Heather Caudle, also chief nursing officer at Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, said: "With regards to high-risk groups, a fast-growing group we're seeing in the context of Covid is female nurses, particularly those nurses who've worked in ICU or critical care environments, where one in eight were expressing consistently high levels of suicide thoughts."

Financial worries are also taking their toll as the number of people claiming employment benefits have almost quadrupled in Surrey over the past few months.

Andy Field, chair of Ashford and St Peter's Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said the Suicide Prevention Partnership should be working with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to direct people to appropriate support.

"Having lost a very good friend six months after he lost his job, it's absolutely essential we get linked into the Universal Credit system," he said.

"There's a whole area there that is being missed at the moment."

The number of people claiming Universal Credit and Job Seeker's Allowance in Surrey from April to June 2020 increased by 278% compared to the same period in 2019.

All of Surrey's borough and districts recorded higher increases than the wider south east (170%) and the country as a whole (121%).

Mr Field said benefits assessments also needed to be more considerate of the needs of people with mental ill health.

He added: "The big problem with mental health and DWP comes in assessments, they are totally inappropriate for mental health patients, they're designed for physical, how far can you walk et cetera, and the whole system is designed to increase the stress actually."

Dr Helen Rostill, Surrey Heartlands Health and Care Partnership Director for Mental Health, said: "This is an absolute priority for us as normal people are finding themselves losing their jobs and falling into hardship.

"I think we could do some shaping work in how to take those assessments forward in a more compassionate way."

Numbers of suicides rose during the last recession, said Helen Raison, co-chair of the Suicide Prevention Partnership and also consultant in public health at SCC.

"We don't know whether we might see that again during Covid and potential financial issues," she said.

There were 255 suicides in Surrey between 2017 and 2019, and 292 in the recession between 2009 and 2011, according to Public Health England.

She added: "In Surrey, by looking at our real-time suicide surveillance data through the police, which is not yet validated so I'm saying this with some caution, we are seeing more probable suicides at home.

"The rates in the 18 to 29 year olds look like they might be a bit higher."

There had been a particularly high demand for suicide prevention training and mental health first aid in the last few months, she said.

In light of the emerging risk factors, the partnership have asked the coroner for his records to carry out an audit of suicides.

One of their priorities is to provide better information and support to those bereaved by suicide. The family, friends and carers of those who die have a one in 10 risk of attempting suicide themselves.

Surrey Suicide bereavement service is delivering one-to-one support to 230 people a year and five peer-support groups are being set up, but both initiatives are only funded until 2021-22.

Surrey Heartlands Health and Care Partnership, which covers an area of around one billion people, is getting £625,500 over the next three years for suicide prevention and response.

See what support is available from Healthy Surrey here and SSBS here.

Anyone needing mental health support can call the Samaritans helpline on 116 123 or Surrey Mental Health Crisis on 0800 915 4644. Both are available 24 hours a day.