World Mental Health Day 2025: supporting people with neurological conditions – and the teams who care for them

Good mental health is fundamental to both quality of life and quality of care – for people living with neurological conditions and for the professionals who support them. Yet across the healthcare workforce, poor mental health remains a pressing issue. According to the 2024 NHS Staff Survey, 41% of staff reported feeling unwell due to work-related stress in the past year, a figure that remains unacceptably high even as it begins to improve following the pandemic. Meanwhile, a Royal College of Nursing (RCN) analysis found a 54% increase in calls about suicidal thoughts among nursing staff, with many attributing their distress to workplace pressures. Broader national data show that the suicide rate amongst women nurses is 23% higher than women in other occupations (Revisioning Nurse Distress and Suicidality).

For people living with long-term neurological conditions, the mental health burden is equally significant. Depression, anxiety and cognitive change are all more common than in the general population, and studies show that the risk of suicide can be particularly high in the first year after diagnosis. It is a reminder that mental health support should be woven into every stage of neurological care – from diagnosis onwards.

To mark World Mental Health Day, Ruth Stross, our head of nursing, sat down with Emma Edwards, a Parkinson’s nurse specialist and former mental health nurse, to discuss the close link between neurology and mental health. Ruth, a neurology nurse by background, is a member of the RCN Neuroscience Forum and a trustee with MS Together, which supports young adults with multiple sclerosis. Emma brings a unique perspective, having moved from mental health into neurology, and having worked as a suicide-awareness trainer for healthcare professionals.

Together, they explore the psychological challenges faced by people with long-term neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s and multiple sclerosis (MS), the barriers that exist in accessing the right mental health support, and the importance of looking after our own wellbeing as healthcare professionals. You can watch their full conversation in the video below.

During the discussion, Ruth and Emma reflect on the complex relationship between neurological conditions and mental wellbeing. Depression, anxiety and cognitive changes are common across conditions like Parkinson’s and MS. Sometimes these symptoms are linked directly to the disease process itself; other times, they are a side effect of medication or the emotional response to living with a long-term condition.

Emma notes that while there are around 500 Parkinson’s nurses in the UK, only a handful come from a mental health background. Having worked in psychiatric intensive care before moving into neurology, she explains how her mental health training has been invaluable in recognising and addressing the emotional needs of her patients.

Both emphasise that the period immediately following diagnosis can be particularly challenging. Research shows that suicide risk peaks within the first year after diagnosis, when the shock and uncertainty of living with a life-changing condition can feel overwhelming.

“How a diagnosis is delivered makes a huge difference. Those who receive it in a sensitive, balanced way – with honesty but also with hope – tend to do far better with their mental health than those given little information or support.”

Emma Edwards

The power of community and peer support

The conversation highlights the importance of connection and social belonging. The World Health Organization’s Commission on Social Connection recently reaffirmed that strong social ties are closely linked to better health outcomes and a lower risk of early death. Building on this, new research from the University of Bristol, published last month, explored variations in suicide rates across England and Wales by ethnicity, migrant status and descendant status. The findings showed that areas with greater ethnic diversity had lower suicide rates – a point Emma reflects on in the conversation. She suggests that this may speak to the cultural richness and community support that exist within diverse populations, and what others might learn from these models of connection and mutual care.

Emma discusses her work with Spotlight YOPD, a charity supporting people diagnosed with Parkinson’s at a younger age, where peer networks and shared understanding can make a huge difference. Ruth shares similar insights from MS Together, which connects young adults through local meet-ups, peer support and counselling.

Both agree that early and appropriate signposting is essential. Generic counselling services often focus on acute life events such as bereavement or relationship breakdowns, rather than the ongoing psychological impact of a long-term neurological condition. For this reason, healthcare professionals need to know what specialist support exists locally and nationally, and where best to refer patients.

Practical support and knowing where to turn

“As healthcare professionals, we need to upskill ourselves so that we have the confidence to ask questions about mental health – and the ability to know what to do with the answer.”

Emma Edwards

Emma shares some practical advice for both patients and clinicians. Across England, anyone can now access urgent mental health support through NHS 111 (option 2), a 24/7 helpline connecting callers directly to local mental health teams. This single access point makes it easier for patients, families, and staff to get timely advice and support. She encourages all clinicians to familiarise themselves with their local mental health pathways, particularly as services have become more streamlined and easier to navigate.

She also dispels a common myth: that asking patients directly about suicidal thoughts might make things worse.

“There’s no evidence that asking the question increases risk,” she explains. “In fact, research shows it can be life-saving. Simply starting that conversation can be deeply therapeutic.”

What matters next is knowing what to do with the answer, and making a well-informed, detailed referral to ensure the person receives the right care.

Looking after those who care

The discussion also turns to the mental health of healthcare professionals themselves. Emma highlights RCN research showing that more than half of nurses reporting to their helplines have experienced suicidal thoughts, and that around 70% of those attribute their distress to workplace stress. Both she and Ruth agree that, despite increased awareness, there is still stigma attached to admitting you are struggling, and that the culture around staff wellbeing needs to change.

For both speakers, social connection is key.

“We are hard-wired for connection,” says Emma. “We don’t thrive in isolation – personally or professionally. Find your tribe and reach out to others.”

She also stresses the importance of professional boundaries, learning to say no, and recognising when you need help.

“If you had crushing chest pain, you wouldn’t hesitate to ask for help,” she says. “It should be no different for your mental health. There isn’t any shame in asking for help.”

Ruth agrees, adding that visible symptoms tend to attract support, while invisible ones often go unnoticed. She encourages colleagues to look out for one another and to make honest conversations about wellbeing a normal part of working life.

Emma highlights the work of the Laura Hyde Foundation, a charity dedicated to supporting the mental health of healthcare and emergency service workers. The foundation provides guidance, resources and signposting for those struggling with the pressures of caring roles — recognising that the people who look after others are often the least likely to seek help themselves.

Where to get help and further support

For people living with neurological conditions (and families)

• NHS 111 for mental health: call 111 and choose the mental health option to reach your local crisis service 24/7. nhs.uk
  

• Spotlight YOPD: community and resources for younger people with Parkinson’s.
  

• MS Together: peer support, regional meet-ups and signposting for young adults with MS.
  

• Mind and Samaritans (116 123): mental health information and confidential emotional support (free, 24/7).
  

For unpaid carers

• Mobilise: practical tools, peer communities and coaching for unpaid carers.
  

For healthcare staff

• Laura Hyde Foundation – support for healthcare and emergency service workers

• Parkinson’s Academy webinar: Suicide awareness and your role

Healthcare professionals play a vital role in supporting the mental and emotional health of our nation, but who is supporting their health? The NHS is currently experiencing some of the most severe pressures in its 70-year history, and the most reported reasons for sickness absence across all staff groups are anxiety, stress, depression and other psychiatric illnesses.

We recently developed a free online course for anyone working in healthcare who wants to focus on their own health and wellness, whether to prevent, manage or recover from burnout, to invest in their future health, or to gain a better understanding of how lifestyle changes can impact our overall wellness.

Find out more: ‘Health & wellness: taking care of ourselves and those around us