Junior Doctors: Suicide

(asked on 23rd March 2023) - View Source

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the rate of suicides amongst junior doctors.


Answered by
Will Quince Portrait
Will Quince
This question was answered on 30th March 2023

The table below shows the number of suicides registered for all medical practitioners, aged between 20 and 64 years old, in England in the years 2011 to 2021. A breakdown for junior doctors is not available.

Year

Number of suicides

2021

10

2020

20

2019

19

2018

17

2017

18

2016

13

2015

14

2014

18

2013

20

2012

16

2011

13

More information is available at the following link:

https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/adhocs/15043suicidebyoccupationenglandandwales2011to2021registrations

We are already investing an additional £57 million in suicide prevention by 2023/24 through the National Health Service Long Term Plan. Through this, all areas of the country are seeing investment to support local suicide prevention plans and the development of suicide bereavement services. Last year, we announced our intention to publish a new national suicide prevention strategy. Since then, we have been working to ensure this new strategy reflects the most up to date evidence and will address current challenges, risks, and opportunities to prevent suicide when it is published. We intend to publish the refreshed strategy this year.

We are committed to supporting the mental health and wellbeing of the NHS workforce. The NHS is providing ongoing physical and mental health support for staff. This includes NHS Practitioner Health, which provides free access to targeted psychological support and treatment for healthcare professionals.

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