Research And Statistics On Mental Health Issues Among NHS Staff

Amidst growing pressures on the NHS as well as government funding cuts, thousands of NHS staff across the country have had to take absences due to mental health problems.

Pressures inside the NHS have become so severe that the equivalent of a week off work was taken by every single one of the health service’s 350k nurses last year due to stress, anxiety and depression, analysis of new NHS England data shows.

Due to ongoing staffing problems, many workers are pushed beyond their mental and physical limits due to long, intensive hours.

To gain a true understanding of the number of NHS staff suffering with mental health problems, Legal Expert set out to investigate.

How Legal Expert Can Help

If you’ve suffered mental health problems while working for the NHS and believe the working practices should have been different or the organisation should have done much to support you, get in touch. Here at Legal Expert, our team can advise you on your legal options and give advice on what you can do, such as making a compensation claim, all free of charge.

How We Conducted Our Research Into Mental Health Issues Among NHS Staff

We sent Freedom of Information (FOI) requests to every NHS Trust in the UK asking how many NHS Staff have taken at least one day off work due to mental health issues in the past three years. (Broken down by years 2021/22, 2022/23, 2023/24)

We also asked if these figures could be broken down into specific mental health issues such as anxiety, depression and stress during the same three-year period.

Statistics On NHS Staff Mental Health Issues

According to a recent poll conducted by NHS Charities, three out of four NHS staff have experienced poor mental health in the past year, suggesting that issues around pay and workload have resulted in a number of mental challenges.

Legal Expert also obtained the figures on the specific mental health reasons that staff members gave for their absence.

Based on figures gathered from NHS Trusts across the country, the most common mental health issues that NHS staff face are anxiety, depression and stress.

Swindon

NHS mental health absences – Swindon

No. of staff absent due to mental health reasons

2021/22 | 621

2022/23 | 550

2023/24 | 589

Total | 1,760

Mental health absence reasons – Swindon

No. of absences due to anxiety, depression or stress (2021-2024)

Anxiety | 36

Depression | 63

Stress | 150

Hull

NHS mental health absences – Hull

No. of staff absent due to mental health reasons

2021/22 | 786

2022/23 | 730

2023/24 | 713

Total | 2,229

Mental health absences reasons – Hull

No. of absences due to anxiety, depression or stress (2021-2024)

Anxiety | 183

Depression | 33

Stress | 197

Cornwall

NHS mental health absences – Cornwall

No. of staff absent due to mental health reasons

2021/22 | 918

2022/23 | 882

2023/24 | 1032

Total | 2,832

Mental health absence reasons – Cornwall

No. of absences due to anxiety, depression or stress (2021-2024)

Anxiety | 637

Depression | 258

Stress | 1289

Newcastle

NHS mental health absences – Newcastle

No. of staff absent due to mental health reasons

2021/22 | 1104

2022/23 | 1192

2023/24 | 1468

Total | 3,764

Mental health absence reasons- Newcastle

No. of absences due to anxiety, depression or stress (2021-2024)

Anxiety | 313

Depression | 105

Stress | 488

Morecambe

NHS mental health absences – Morecambe

No. of staff absent due to mental health reasons

2021/22 | 769

2022/23 | 776

2023/24 | 848

Total | 2,393

Mental health absence reasons – Morecambe

No. of absences due to anxiety, depression or stress (2021-2024)

Anxiety | 392

Depression | 170

Stress | 686

York and Scarborough

NHS mental health absences – York and Scarborough

No. of staff absent due to mental health reasons

2021/22 | 1247

2022/23 | 1182

2023/24 | 1207

Total | 3,636

Mental health absence reasons – York and Scarborough

No. of absences due to anxiety, depression or stress (2021-2024)

Anxiety | 92

Depression | 24

Stress | 151

Lancashire

NHS mental health absences – Lancashire

No. of staff absent due to mental health reasons

2021/22 | 1336

2022/23 | 1255

2023/24 | 1398

Total | 3,989

Mental health absence reasons – Lancashire

No. of absences due to anxiety, depression or stress (2021-2024)

Anxiety | 866

Depression | 220

Stress | 1015

Doncaster

NHS mental health absences – Doncaster

No. of staff absent due to mental health reasons

2021/22 | 1791

2022/23 | 1089

2023/24 | 1131

Total | 4,011

North West Anglia

NHS mental health absences – North West Anglia

No. of staff absent due to mental health reasons

2021/22 | 745

2022/23 | 718

2023/24 | 819

Total | 2,282

Northampton

NHS mental health absences – Northampton

No. of staff absent due to mental health reasons

2021/22 | 600

2022/23 | 565

2023/24 | 560

Total | 1,725

Mental health absences reasons – Northampton

No. of absences due to anxiety, depression or stress (2021-2024)

Anxiety | 88

Depression | 34

Stress | 145

Berkshire

NHS mental health absences – Berkshire

No. of staff absent due to mental health reasons

2021/22 | 478

2022/23 | 454

2023/24 | 437

Total | 1,369

Somerset

NHS mental health absences – Somerset

No. of staff absent due to mental health reasons

2021/22 | 1307

2022/23 | 1249

2023/24 | 1499

Total | 4,055

Salisbury

NHS mental health absences – Salisbury

No. of staff absent due to mental health reasons

2021/22 | 423

2022/23 | 430

2023/24 | 522

Total | 1,375

Barnsley

NHS mental health absences – Barnsley

No. of staff absent due to mental health reasons

2021/22 | 517

2022/23 | 647

2023/24 | 757

Total | 1,921

Herefordshire

NHS mental health absences – Herefordshire

No. of staff absent due to mental health reasons

2021/22 | 679

2022/23 | 646

2023/24 | 638

Total | 1,963

Mental health absences reasons – Herefordshire

No. of absences due to anxiety, depression or stress (2021-2024)

Anxiety | 545

Depression | 180

Stress | 493

Shrewsbury and Telford

NHS mental health absences – Shrewsbury and Telford

No. of staff absent due to mental health reasons

2021/22 | 870

2022/23 | 800

2023/24 | 906

Total | 2,576

Hampshire

NHS mental health absences – Hampshire

No. of staff absent due to mental health reasons

2021/22 | 1743

2022/23 | 1689

2023/24 | 1652

Total | 5,084

Cambridge

NHS mental health absences – Cambridge

No. of staff absent due to mental health reasons

2021/22 | 1515

2022/23 | 1457

2023/24 | 1619

Total | 4,591

County Durham and Darlington

NHS mental health absences – County Durham and Darlington

No. of staff absent due to mental health reasons

2021/22 | 960

2022/23 | 1023

2023/24 | 1108

Total | 3,091

Mental health absence reasons – County Durham and Darlington

No. of absences due to anxiety, depression or stress (2021-2024)

Anxiety | 191

Depression | 78

Stress | 256

Cumbria

NHS mental health absences – Cumbria

No. of staff absent due to mental health reasons

2021/22 | 897

2022/23 | 878

2023/24 | 1056

Total | 2,831

Mental health absence reasons – Cumbria

No. of absences due to anxiety, depression or stress (2021-2024)

Anxiety | 288

Depression | 111

Stress | 556

Isle of Wight

NHS mental health absences – Isle of Wight

No. of staff absent due to mental health reasons

2021/22 | 495

2022/23 | 573

2023/24 | 658

Total | 1,726

Liverpool

NHS mental health absences – Liverpool

No. of staff absent due to mental health reasons

2021/22 | 1458

2022/23 | 1453

2023/24 | 1807

Total | 4,718

Blackpool

NHS mental health absences – Blackpool

No. of staff absent due to mental health reasons

2021/22 | 1287

2022/23 | 1326

2023/24 | 1484

Total | 4,097

Milton Keynes

NHS mental health absences – Milton Keynes

No. of staff absent due to mental health reasons

2021/22 | 572

2022/23 | 543

2023/24 | 611

Total | 1,726

Plymouth

NHS mental health absences – Plymouth

No. of staff absent due to mental health reasons

2021/22 | 2076

2022/23 | 2004

2023/24 | 2148

Total | 6,228

Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh

NHS mental health absences – Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh

No. of staff absent due to mental health reasons

2021/22 | 859

2022/23 | 850

2023/24 | 880

Total | 2,589

Devon

NHS mental health absences – Devon

No. of staff absent due to mental health reasons

2021/22 | 864

2022/23 | 1013

2023/24 | 1265

Total | 3,142

North Midlands

NHS mental health absences – North Midlands

No. of staff absent due to mental health reasons

2021/22 | 1643

2022/23 | 1505

2023/24 | 1539

Total | 4,687

Bradford

NHS mental health absences – Bradford

No. of staff absent due to mental health reasons

2021/22 | 966

2022/23 | 946

2023/24 | 809

Total | 2,721

Warrington and Halton

NHS mental health absences – Warrington and Halton

No. of staff absent due to mental health reasons

2021/22 | 544

2022/23 | 504

2023/24 | 583

Total | 1,631

Mental health absence reasons – Warrington and Halton

No. of absences due to anxiety, depression or stress (2021-2024)

Anxiety | 176

Depression | 33

Stress | 237

Leeds

NHS mental health absences – Leeds

No. of staff absent due to mental health reasons

2021/22 | 2419

2022/23 | 2459

2023/24 | 2587

Total | 7,465

Hertfordshire

NHS mental health absences – Hertfordshire

No. of staff absent due to mental health reasons

2021/22 | 1068

2022/23 | 979

2023/24 | 1001

Total | 3,048

North Tees and Hartlepool

NHS mental health absences – North Tees and Hartlepool

No. of staff absent due to mental health reasons

2021/22 | 676

2022/23 | 603

2023/24 | 715

Total | 1,994

Derby and Burton

NHS mental health absences – Derby and Burton

No. of staff absent due to mental health reasons

2021/22 | 2346

2022/23 | 2326

2023/24 | 2617

Total | 7,289

Mental health absence reasons – Derby and Burton

No. of absences due to anxiety, depression or stress (2021-2024)

Anxiety | 1095

Depression | 327

Stress | 1572

South West Yorkshire

NHS mental health absences – South West Yorkshire

No. of staff absent due to mental health reasons

2021/22 | 597

2022/23 | 579

2023/24 | 589

Total | 1,765

Mental health absence reasons – South West Yorkshire

No. of absences due to anxiety, depression or stress (2021-2024)

Anxiety | 109

Depression | 35

Stress | 178

Kent

NHS mental health absences – East Kent

No. of staff absent due to mental health reasons

2021/22 | 1158

2022/23 | 1116

2023/24 | 1259

Total | 3,533

Birmingham

NHS mental health absences – Birmingham

No. of staff absent due to mental health reasons

2021/22 | 2613

2022/23 | 2618

2023/24 | 2826

Total | 8,057

Bedfordshire

NHS mental health absences – Bedfordshire

No. of staff absent due to mental health reasons

2021/22 | 1025

2022/23 | 1062

2023/24 | 1173

Total | 3,260

Buckinghamshire

NHS mental health absences – Buckinghamshire

No. of staff absent due to mental health reasons

2021/22 | 311

2022/23 | 273

2023/24 | 418

Total | 1,002

Dorset

NHS mental health absences – Dorset

No. of staff absent due to mental health reasons

2021/22 | 1138

2022/23 | 1156

2023/24 | 1278

Total | 3,572

Mental health absence reasons – Dorset

No. of absences due to anxiety, depression or stress (2021-2024)

Anxiety | 208

Depression | 97

Stress | 439

Essex

NHS mental health absences – Essex

No. of staff absent due to mental health reasons

2021/22 | 2604

2022/23 | 2366

2023/24 | 2645

Total | 7,615

Sussex

NHS mental health absences – Sussex

No. of staff absent due to mental health reasons

2021/22 | 2634

2022/23 | 2616

2023/24 | 2799

Total | 8,049

Gloucestershire

NHS mental health absences – Gloucestershire

No. of staff absent due to mental health reasons

2021/22 | 1721

2022/23 | 1578

2023/24 | 1857

Total | 5,156

Mental health absence reasons – Gloucestershire

No. of absences due to anxiety, depression or stress (2021-2024)

Anxiety | 64

Depression | 19

Stress | 80

East Lancashire

NHS mental health absences – East Lancashire

No. of staff absent due to mental health reasons

2021/22 | 1210

2022/23 | 1257

2023/24 | 1314

Total | 3,781

Worcestershire

NHS mental health absences – Worcestershire

No. of staff absent due to mental health reasons

2021/22 | 863

2022/23 | 891

2023/24 | 1006

Total | 2,760

Norfolk and Norwich

NHS mental health absences – Norfolk and Norwich

No. of staff absent due to mental health reasons

2021/22 | 1108

2022/23 | 1018

2023/24 | 1014

Total | 3,140

Northern Care Alliance (Greater Manchester)

NHS mental health absences – Northern Care Alliance

No. of staff absent due to mental health reasons

2021/22 | 2659

2022/23 | 2490

2023/24 | 2922

Total | 8,071

Sheffield

NHS mental health absences – Sheffield

No. of staff absent due to mental health reasons

2021/22 | 2232

2022/23 | 2147

2023/24 | 2298

Total | 6,677

Frimley Health

NHS mental health absences – Frimley Health

No. of staff absent due to mental health reasons

2021/22 | 764

2022/23 | 710

2023/24 | 765

Total | 2,239

Cheshire

NHS mental health absences – Cheshire

No. of staff absent due to mental health reasons

2021/22 | 678

2022/23 | 472

2023/24 | 438

Total | 1,588

Bath

NHS mental health absences – Bath

No. of staff absent due to mental health reasons

2021/22 | 661

2022/23 | 695

2023/24 | 819

Total | 2,175

Princess Alexandra (West Essex and East Hertfordshire)

NHS mental health absences – Princess Alexandra

No. of staff absent due to mental health reasons

2021/22 | 392

2022/23 | 378

2023/24 | 421

Total | 1,191

Tameside and Glossop

NHS mental health absences – Tameside and Glossop

No. of staff absent due to mental health reasons

2021/22 | 535

2022/23 | 542

2023/24 | 613

Total | 1,690

Mental health absence reasons – Tameside and Glossop

No. of absences due to anxiety, depression or stress (2021-2024)

Anxiety | 151

Depression | 41

Stress | 161

Croydon

NHS mental health absences – Croydon

No. of staff absent due to mental health reasons

2021/22 | 335

2022/23 | 295

2023/24 | 325

Total | 955

Midlands

NHS mental health absences – Midlands

No. of staff absent due to mental health reasons

2021/22 | 5014

2022/23 | 5010

2023/24 | 5525

Total | 15549

Lincolnshire

NHS mental health – Lincolnshire

No. of staff absent due to mental health reasons

2021/22 | 1121

2022/23 | 1192

2023/24 | 1259

Total | 3572

Hillingdon

NHS mental health absences – Hillingdon

No. of staff absent due to mental health reasons

2021/22 | 221

2022/23 | 209

2023/24 | 211

Total | 641

Middlesex

NHS mental health absences – Middlesex

No. of staff absent due to mental health reasons

2021/22 | 216

2022/23 | 275

2023/24 | 324

Total | 815