New support group for people who have lost a nurse to suicide

Doctors in Distress, a charity which provides mental wellbeing support to UK healthcare workers, has launched ‘Space to Think’, a confidential space for people to talk about their experiences.

The online group will commence this Thursday 2 May and will run for a month.

The charity confirmed to Nursing Times that it would do all it can to keep the group running beyond this date, but that it would depend on funding.

It comes as the rate of suicide among female nurses is 23% higher than women in the general population, according to the Office for National Statistics,

Meanwhile, the Royal College of Nursing reported last year that the number of nursing staff expressing suicidal thoughts had almost doubled in a year.

Susannah Basile, head of external affairs and business development at Doctors in Distress, said: “Shockingly, one nurse takes their own life in the UK every week.

“This tragedy has far-reaching effects for everyone in that person’s life and it can be difficult to know how to process the grief,” she said. “It can be an extremely lonely place.”

Ms Basile said the charity was hosting the first-of-its-kind support group “to create a safe space for people to talk and share with others” who have been through the same experience.

“Given the high rate of nurse suicide in the UK, we are committed to providing this space to anyone who needs our help,” added Ms Basile.

The free weekly sessions, led by a trained facilitator, will take place via Zoom every Thursday from 2 May to 6 June, between 7:30-9pm.

You can sign up to the group here.

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.