{"id":7771,"date":"2026-04-24T14:15:09","date_gmt":"2026-04-24T13:15:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/28april.org\/?p=7771"},"modified":"2026-04-24T14:00:38","modified_gmt":"2026-04-24T13:00:38","slug":"uk-overworked-nhs-staff-report-stress-sickness-and-a-reliance-on-antidepressants-says-unison","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/28april.org\/?p=7771","title":{"rendered":"UK: Overworked NHS staff report stress, sickness, and\u00a0a\u00a0reliance on antidepressants, says UNISON"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"UNISON
\nIn the run up to psychosocial hazards-themed International Workers\u2019 Memorial Day health service union UNISON has said health workers need better support to cope with the pressures they face.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

A third of NHS employees have taken time off for mental health issues in the past year with many staff talking about reaching \u201cbreaking point\u201d, according to new findings released by UNISON\u00a0on 15 April 2026.<\/p>\n

A survey of health workers, including nurses, occupational therapists and paramedics, has also found more than four in five (85%) have experienced stress at work over the past 12 months.<\/p>\n

Staff say\u00a0stress has had a significant impact on their mental and physical health, with symptoms including anxiety, PTSD, panic attacks, migraines, and sleep disturbance.<\/p>\n

Some have experienced high blood pressure, stress-related vomiting, dizziness and breathlessness, according to the findings of the union survey. One NHS worker even reported suffering a heart attack due to understaffing and high workloads.<\/p>\n

Many\u00a0described reaching breaking point, feeling exhausted and overwhelmed by sustained levels of stress. This has affected their relationships and family lives, with some reporting suicidal thoughts, UNISON says.<\/p>\n

NHS workers also described taking antidepressants and beta-blocker drugs, as well as undergoing cognitive behavioural therapy and counselling.<\/p>\n

UNISON says the findings \u2013 based on responses from more than 19,000 staff and released during the union\u2019s annual health conference in Edinburgh \u2013 paint a grim picture when the NHS workforce is under pressure to reduce waiting lists.<\/p>\n

Almost a quarter\u00a0(23%) didn\u2019t tell their employer the real reason\u00a0for their absence from work. Of those, most said they did not feel\u00a0their manager would support them, while concerns about stigma and not\u00a0wanting colleagues to know were also common.<\/p>\n

Counselling, medication or other forms of support had been sought in the past year by more than one in four (28%) of those under stress. Almost two thirds (65%) of those who had taken time off for stress reported feeling that they were under pressure to come to\u00a0work,\u00a0despite feeling mentally unwell. This adds strain to an already overstretched workforce, UNISON says.<\/p>\n

The Covid inquiry into the impact of the\u00a0pandemic on the UK\u2019s healthcare systems highlighted the \u201calmost superhuman efforts\u201d of NHS staff despite the significant and long-lasting impact on their mental health and wellbeing.<\/p>\n

Ongoing pressures and staff shortages since the pandemic are only adding to the problem, says UNISON.<\/p>\n

UNISON head of health Helga Pile<\/b>\u00a0said: \u201cSuch high levels of stress in the NHS should be ringing alarm bells. Staff who care for others are being pushed to the point that they\u2019re becoming unwell themselves.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere should be no stigma around mental health, especially in healthcare. Staff need proper support to cope with the pressures they face.<\/p>\n

\u201cGovernment and employers must do more to help staff with their mental health, including providing fast-track access to treatment and moving away from punitive and counter-productive absence policies.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey must also act to ensure the NHS is safely staffed to meet the growing needs of communities.\u201d<\/p>\n

Notes to editors:
\n<\/b>\u2013 The survey was conducted\u00a0from 27 January to 27 February 2026 and received 19,356\u00a0responses from staff working in healthcare across England, Scotland and Northern Ireland including nurses, paramedics, pharmacists, admin workers and cleaners.
\n\u2013 Staff experiences recorded by the survey include:
\n\u201cStress has brought on an eating disorder, and my mental health has suffered tremendously.\u201d\u00a0Health care assistant, Yorkshire
\n<\/b>\u201cI\u2019ve started to take a high dose of antidepressants. I struggle to sleep. It affects my mood at home with my family. I\u2019ve developed a twitch in my eye which the doctor and optometrist say is down to stress and fatigue.\u201d\u00a0Admin worker, Yorkshire
\n<\/b>\u201cI\u2019m on anxiety medication. I\u2019ve just finished some counselling but may restart in the future.\u201d\u00a0Mental health nurse, Yorkshire
\n<\/b>\u201cI\u2019m on medication, regularly see a psychiatrist and psychologist, and have had to take sick leave.\u201d\u00a0Nurse, North West
\n<\/b>\u201cI\u2019ve been so stressed I had a heart attack before Christmas due to no staff and massive workloads.\u201d\u00a0Admin worker, North West
\n<\/b>\u201cMy stress manifested in physical symptoms such as stomach aches, vomiting, shaking and overwhelming anxiety when I walk into work. I also started pulling my hair out and it\u2019s triggered by things such as heavy workloads.\u201d\u00a0Estates and facilities worker, North West
\n<\/b>\u201cI\u2019ve developed depression and anxiety due to work, to the point I had negative thoughts and my GP has prescribed antidepressants. I\u2019m constantly stressed and dread going to work. Constant micromanagement and\u00a0demands are increasing burnout and anxiety.\u201d\u00a0Paramedic, London
\n<\/b>\u201cI often feel overwhelmed by my workload and struggle to switch off from my job, which has caused constant worry and anxiety. This stress made concentrating difficult and reduced my confidence in carrying out tasks. I also experience fatigue, low mood and have difficulty sleeping, and that\u2019s affected my overall wellbeing and performance at work.\u201d\u00a0Midwife, London
\n<\/b>\u201cI have\u00a0high levels of anxiety and constantly fear making mistakes due to the workload and staffing issues. I\u2019ve experienced hair thinning, poor appetite, dehydration and urinary infections, because I\u2019m unable to pause for a drink. My immune system is poor because I feel burnout, but I fear taking any time off leads to financial issues.\u201d\u00a0Nurse, West Midlands
\n<\/b>\u201cI underwent counselling to help me deal with my work-life balance. I had an occupational health referral that recommended redeployment to come off the road to help reduce stress, but this wasn\u2019t accommodated on my return.\u201d\u00a0Emergency ambulance associate, South West
\n<\/b>\u201cWork pressure was overwhelming. As the weeks went by, I was getting worse: crying as I drove to work, struggling to cope with daily pressure. I was emotional, not eating or sleeping, lacked confidence, withdrew from social and family events. I struggled to even do grocery shopping. It\u2019s something I hope I never go through again.\u201d\u00a0Admin worker, East of England
\n<\/b>\u201cStress at work has affected my marriage, my ability to socialise and I feel constantly on the verge of tears.\u201d\u00a0Clinical support worker, Scotland
\n<\/b>\u201cMy workload is unrealistic. I\u2019m covering two people\u2019s jobs whilst a colleague is on maternity. There\u2019s very little support from senior management. I\u2019ve been signed off by my GP due to work-related stress and high blood pressure for six weeks. I\u2019m now on medication and looking for other jobs.\u201d\u00a0Admin worker, Northern Ireland
\n<\/b>\u2013 UNISON\u2019s annual health conference began on Monday (13 April) and continues until today (Wednesday 15 April) at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre, Edinburgh EH3 8EE. UNISON general secretary Andrea Egan gave the keynote speech on Monday afternoon. Health workers from across the UK have been in attendance to debate a variety of motions including NHS pay, a greener NHS, bank staff, support for migrant workers, mental health, sexual safety, problems with NHS salary scales, and safe staffing.
\n\u2013\u00a0UNISON\u00a0is\u00a0the\u00a0UK\u2019s\u00a0largest\u00a0union and\u00a0the largest\u00a0union in\u00a0the\u00a0NHS and in\u00a0the\u00a0ambulance sector, with more than 1.3 million members providing public services \u2013 in education, local government,\u00a0the\u00a0NHS, police service and energy.\u00a0They are employed in\u00a0the\u00a0public, voluntary and private sectors.<\/p>\n

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