National Memorial Day for Health and Care Workers
17th September
Since 2011 more than 2,500 health and care workers are recorded as having lost their lives to suicide (based on ONS statistics)
Those numbers may be considerably higher where a verdict of suicide cannot be reached, but indicators suggest that suicidal thoughts may have played a part in an unexpected death.
For the last ten years at Practitioner Health, we have been collecting the names, photos and details of those we hear about and now NHS England have introduced a programme to collect these formally and create a better understanding of the factors and issues which may lead to suicide in the workforce.
We want to remember each individual and provide a day each September where we can take a moment for reflection and remember those people, who were our friends, our colleagues, our family and who are no longer with us.
Doctors in Distress – National Memorial Tree Campaign
Doctors in Distress and their patron, BAFTA winner and former NHS doctor Adam Kay, have launched a National Memorial Tree Campaign to remember those who have taken their own lives.
Find out more on their website.
If you would like to buy some of our Memorial pin badges, please send us the following details; how many you would like to order (minimum order 10) and where they need to be sent. Badges cost £5 each and all the proceeds go to our charity to support the mental health of healthcare workers. To order some, email contact@doctors-in-distress.org.uk or visit their website here
Stay up to date with plans for the National Memorial Day on 17th September
Please join us this year on 17th September in a moment of reflection – you can do this in a quiet moment on your own, as a team or use the opportunity to mark the day across your organisation.
Find out more on their website.
To access our National Suicide Memorial Day Resources click here
Published: Sep 16, 2024