'Anxiety, stress and depression' – Just some of the reasons our region's NHS staff are being forced to take time off

All in all, 12,200 days were lost across the region's health service as a result of stress, or issues relating to it.

Latest NHS Digital figures show there were 6,500 days lost due to staff absences at Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, in February.

Of the days lost, 1,700 were due to anxiety, stress, depression or other psychiatric illnesses. It accounted for 27 per cent of staff sick days and was the most reported reason for sickness.

It was down from 32 per cent in February the year before, and was ​a fall from 29 per cent in 2019, before the pandemic.

As well as that, 11,300 days were lost due to staff absences in Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust, in February.

Of those, 2,500 of them were due to anxiety, stress, depression or other psychiatric illnesses. It accounted for 22 per cent of staff sick days and was the most reported reason for sickness.

It was in line with February the year before, but was ​a marginal increase from 21 per cent in 2019, before the pandemic.

A fifth of staff sick days in the Dudley trust were due to stress-related reasons, there were 8,500 days lost due to staff absences in The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust in February.

1,600 of them were due to anxiety, stress, depression or other psychiatric illnesses. It accounted for 19 per cent of staff sick days and was the most reported reason for sickness.

It was down from 24 per cent in February the year before, and was ​a fall from 26 per cent in 2019, before the pandemic.

More than a quarter of staff sick days in the Royal Wolverhampton Trust were due to stress-related reasons, there were 15,400 days lost due to staff absences in The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust in February.

4,200 of them were due to anxiety, stress, depression or other psychiatric illnesses. It accounted for 27 per cent of staff sick days and was the most reported reason for sickness.

It was up from 22 per cent in February the year before, and was ​an increase from 21 per cent in 2019, before the pandemic.

A quarter of staff sick days in Walsall Healthcare were due to stress-related reasons, there were 8,700 days lost due to staff absences in Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust in February.

2,200 were due to anxiety, stress, depression or other psychiatric illnesses. It accounted for 25 per cent of staff sick days and was the most reported reason for sickness.

It was down from 27 per cent in February the year before, but was ​in line with 2019, before the pandemic.

How do the Black Country NHS figures for stress compare to the rest of England?

Across England, anxiety, stress, depression and other psychiatric illnesses accounted for over 545,100 days lost and 26 per cent of all sickness absences in February.

It was up from 25 per cent the year before and a jump from 23 per cent in 2019.

Alex Baylis, the King's Fund assistant director of policy, said: "This is just another wake up call to the NHS, because we are seeing exactly the same sort of trends when you look at reasons for people leaving the NHS."

He said the normalisation of "chronic excessive workloads" on staff is the main driver in the high levels of stress-related sick absences.

He added: "So, what we think is important is not just focusing on supporting individuals but looking at what these systemic, underlying drivers of these levels of stress and burnout.

"That means really listening to staff and being prepared to put in place fundamental changes where needed to address this, rather than normalise it and carrying on with these constant warning signs we are getting."

The figures also show the overall sickness absence rate for England was five per cent.

'NHS risks being stuck in a vicious cycle'

The Nuffield Trust said high sickness absence is detrimental to staff and patient care.

Billy Palmer, Nuffield Trust senior fellow, said: "The NHS has a duty of care to its workforce, and this high level of stress among staff also points to some troubling future retention issues.

"Given high sickness absence levels and poor retention are both causes of and caused by increased pressure of services, the NHS risks being stuck in a vicious cycle."

He added that absence rates relate to factors including job satisfaction, workload and socioeconomic status, so multiple solutions will be needed to solve the levels of sickness absence.

An NHS spokesperson said mental health support is available for staff, including access to 24/7 confidential support services, coaching, and flexible working options.

They added: "There is more to do" to ensure NHS staff feel comfortable asking for help.

"That is why the NHS is strengthening our occupational health services and reviewing our mental health offer for staff to ensure everyone working in the NHS has the right support they need."