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March 2023 - Health

Nine in 10 junior doctors say their mental health has deteriorated: A survey has revealed that 90% of junior doctors believe their mental health has worsened due to working conditions within the NHS, with many feeling demoralised, burnt-out and exhausted - and some even reporting feeling suicidal at times.

The survey was conducted for ITV and shared online by the charity, Duty to Care, which seeks to provide wellbeing support and sustain the mental health and wellbeing of healthcare.

There were 265 responses to the survey, with 91% of the respondents polled reporting a dip in their mental health since becoming an NHS junior doctor, and 89% admitting to thinking about leaving the profession.

Working conditions were found to have a huge impact on mental health, according to the research, with 99% saying that they believed their mental health could be improved if their working conditions did.

When asked about their work throughout 2022, more than half the junior doctors polled (53%) said that conditions had been worse than in both 2020 and 2021, when healthcare workers were battling against the devastation cause by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Strike action

Following a ballot from mid-January until 20 February junior doctors voted overwhelmingly for industrial action calling on the Government to restore pay to 2008 levels and improve working conditions across the NHS. It found that 98% were in favour of strike action from a 77.5 per cent turnout -- an overwhelming mandate.

Walkouts began on 13^th March for 72 hours, with around 50,000 junior doctors expected to join the picket line.

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