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The Wall of Remembrance is the world’s first online memorial dedicated to remembering and honouring health and care professionals lost to suicide.
What is National Suicide Memorial Day (NSMD)?
The National Suicide Memorial Day for Health and Care Workers (NSMD), was launched on 17th September 2024 by NHS Practitioner Health and Doctors in Distress.
Since 2011, 2,500 healthcare workers in the UK have died by suicide - on average, four every week. These were dedicated professionals, family members, and friends who were struggling, often in silence.
NSMD provides an annual opportunity to honour their lives of the healthcare workiers we have lost, acknowledge the challenges faced by those in the healthcare profession, and spark change to protect the mental health of healthcare workers today.
2026 Theme: Lasting Memories, Building Hope
This year, we will be launching a new virtual In Remembrance wall, where tributes, photographs and shared memories can be contributed to honour those we have lost and celebrate their vocation, service and impact on others. Alongside this, we will introduce a Messages of Hope wall, providing a space to leave words of encouragement, support and solidarity for colleagues who may be struggling or facing difficult times.
By taking part, you will be helping to highlight NHS England’s commitment to supporting the wellbeing of NHS staff across the UK. To leave a message, please select one of the buttons below.
In Remembrance
Honour the life of a loved one, friend, or colleague by sharing a tribute, memory, or reflection. Your words will become part of our National Memorial Wall, helping to ensure they are remembered and their legacy lives on.
Message of Hope
This space has been created for people to share messages of hope, encouragement and reasons to stay. Words from colleagues, friends, patients, family members and others who care.
Act:
- Check in with a colleague to see how they are doing
- Share your story of mental ill health with loved ones, colleagues, or even online to help start conversations and destigmatise the topic of mental health amongst health and care professionals
- Raise awareness of mental health support available for health and care professionals through sharing an email, social media posts (#NSMD27 #lastingmemoriesbuildinghope) or putting up posters in your breakroom.
How can I take part in NSMD?
The National Suicide Memorial Day for Health and Care Workers is an annual opportunity raise awareness of the importance of workforce wellbeing in healthcare.
By taking part in this year’s NSMD, you will be helping to highlight NHS England’s commitment to supporting the wellbeing of NHS staff across the UK. There are a variety of ways to get involved on this incredibly important day:
1. Host a Memorial
Many organisations across the UK host a memorial event on NSMD to honour the lives of the healthcare workers we have tragically lost to suicide. Notably, the University Hospitals of Leicester planted a memorial tree with Doctors in Distress in 2024, and hosted a memorial event in 2025.
A memorial could be hosting a minute of silence, providing a space for staff to share memories of friends, loved ones, or colleagues they have lost to suicide, or simply lighting a candle in your home.
National Suicide Memorial Day event hosted by University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust at Glenfield Hospital, 17th September 2024.
2. Check in with a colleague to see how they are doing.
Practitioner Health’s Suicide Navigation Guide includes a helpful section titled ‘Worried About a Colleague?’, which provides advice on noticing signs of distress in a colleague, how to begin a conversation with them, and how to support them to get the help they need.
3. Share your story.
The stigma surrounding mental ill health within healthcare is still prevalent.
Many health and care professionals believe that struggling with their mental health is a sign that they are unable to do their jobs. On NSMD, help us to break down the taboo surrounding mental ill health amongst health and care professionals by sharing your story with mental ill health with loved ones, colleagues, or even online.
4. Raise awareness of the mental health support available for health and care professionals.
Many healthcare staff feel unable to access mental health support from their local GP due to worries that they will come across someone they work with. This NSMD, use your voice to raise awareness of the support specifically available for healthcare staff – speak to your organisation’s wellbeing lead, send out emails, share social media posts, or put up posters in your breakroom!
5. Plant a Memorial Tree With Doctors in Distress
Doctors in Distress launched the National Memorial Tree Campaign in 2023 to remember healthcare workers who have taken their own lives. This campaign aspires for every hospital trust in the country to plant a tree on their grounds to honour the lives of these healthcare workers. The memorial tree would also be a symbol of the hospital’s commitment to protect the mental health and wellbeing of their staff.
- If you would like to plant a tree, fill out the contact form.
- Find Frequently Asked Questions about the tree campaign online
6. Wear a Memorial Badge
The NSMD memorial badge pays tribute to health and care workers who have died by suicide, and showcases your support to improve workforce wellbeing for health and care professionals. All proceeds go to Doctors in Distress, who support the wellbeing of healthcare workers through weekly support groups.
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