WARNING: This story contains mentions of suicide.
Researchers at Laurentian University are calling for changes in the health care system after looking into rates of suicidal thinking among nurses working across Canada.
Of 134 nurses interviewed for a recent study by the university in Sudbury, Ont., more than one in three reported experiencing suicidal thoughts. The study found particularly high rates among those who had been in the profession for less than five years, with 41 per cent reporting suicidal thoughts.
“When we started interviewing nurses, we realized this is systemic, it’s endemic and it’s not acceptable,” said Roberta Heale, one of the researchers and a professor at Laurentian University’s School of Nursing.
“The level of violence towards nurses, the level of difficulty in them getting any kind of help with overcoming the traumatic situations that they’ve witnessed and endured. No one should feel suicidal or have mental health issues because of their job.”
Parents of Sudbury nurse call for change
The research was partly inspired by the death of Jordan Heffern, a registered nurse from Sudbury who died by suicide in 2024.
Heffern’s parents, Toni and Darin, attended a news conference Thursday at Laurentian University, where researchers and Nickel Belt MPP France Gélinas discussed the findings.
“She began working as a nurse in August of 2023. Thirteen months later, she died by suicide. Jordan was the victim of workplace violence and harassment as a student,” Darin said.
Jordan suffered concussions on two separate occasions at work, Darin said, adding that she experienced difficulty navigating the process for workplace insurance benefits. He also said her return to work was mismanaged.
He said the death by suicide of a patient also took a toll on nursing staff, but they were not offered support.
“The story of Jordan Heffern is a tragic one, but it does not define her. She was brilliant, she was loved, she loved being a nurse and she was a good person,” Toni said.
Gélinas, the Ontario NDP’s health critic, said the research and Heffern’s death show changes are needed to improve working conditions for nurses.
“I believe that every single suicide can be prevented,” Gélinas said.
She plans to introduce legislation at Queen’s Park when the Ontario legislature returns on Oct. 27.
Gélinas said the proposed bill would establish nurse-to-patient ratios in Ontario hospitals. She said nurses often enter the profession because they want to help people, but can become overwhelmed when they are responsible for more patients than they can safely manage.
The bill would also require hospitals to report incidents of violence against health-care workers and establish a zero-tolerance framework for workplace bullying.
Another provision would create presumptive coverage through the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board for nurses diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder or other psychological injuries.
That would mean those conditions could be presumed to be work-related, making it easier for nurses to access WSIB benefits and treatment.
The proposed legislation would also require hospitals to provide new graduate nurses with 12 months of mentorship.
Gélinas said nurses entering hospital work need more support as they transition from school into the workplace. The bill would also require trauma-informed training for hospital leaders.
‘A lot of stress, a lot of pressure’
Sam Mortimer, a registered nurse and Laurentian University graduate student who worked on the research, said her own experience as a new nurse reflects many of the concerns raised by participants.
“It’s very busy. It’s a lot of stress. It’s a lot of pressure on nurses, a lot of short staffing, violence and not a lot of support. So those are my experiences and [they’re] definitely common amongst participants,” she said.
Nearly 30 per cent of participants reported taking medication for anxiety or depression, while just over 60 per cent said they were currently in counselling or had sought counselling in the past, Mortimer said.
She said some nurses aren’t able to access those supports because they don’t have benefits.
“It’s quite costly to them,” she said.
Heale said the research also underscores the importance of supporting nurses after traumatic incidents.
She compared the situation with that of first responders, including police officers and firefighters, who often have established processes for debriefing after traumatic events.
Nurses, she said, can experience traumatic situations but may be expected to immediately return to caring for other patients.
“It’s more than just walking into a patient’s room with their medications for the day. It’s a big deal,” Heale said.
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