Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many emergency workers have died by suicide each year since 2015.

Every suicide is a tragedy that has devastating and enduring impacts on families, friends and communities. The Government recognises the demanding nature of working in emergency settings, and that staff may require more complex mental wellbeing support due to the traumatic nature of their jobs. National Health Service staff are able to access mental health support through their general practice, as well as support provided by their employer through employee assistance programmes or occupational health. NHS England also offers a range of health and wellbeing resources including the Practitioner Health service that provides specialist mental health support.

The Department does not hold this data. Data relating to numbers of suicides in England and Wales are published regularly by the Office of National Statistics (ONS). ONS occasionally also publishes ad hoc analysis of suicide numbers by standard occupational classifications. Whilst this data does not allow identification of the employer, such as the NHS, it does present suicide numbers by broad occupation categories. The latest ad hoc publication is available at the following link:

https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/adhocs/2726suicidebyoccupationinenglandandwales2023and2024provisional