Promoting peace of mind

The fact that nursing can be stressful is known to us all. But the problem is getting worse. Last year the BBC published a report stating that staff absences for mental health problems – stress, anxiety and depression – had doubled to over 41,100 sick leave days.¹

The reasons for this dramatic rise in stress have been debated widely. The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has stated that nurses have been under relentless pressure from constant change and understaffing.² Long-term, high levels of stress in the workplace can have a negative effect on an individual’s mind and body, leading to chronic illnesses and poor mental health.