In the middle of the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, University Hospitals of Northamptonshire NHS Group, which comprises of Northampton General Hospital (NGH) and Kettering General Hospital (KGH), became apparent that the risk to staff mental health was very high due to mass redeployment, staff being exposed to traumatic events that they wouldn’t normally have seen, and staff not having the right training and psychological capacity to deal with trauma.

The trust developed a suicide risk awareness campaign aimed at all staff, which empowered staff to start a conversation and offer support when they see someone struggling.