National Memorial Tree Campaign
Rooted in remembrance. Growing a culture of care.
A memorial tree is a living, growing place to remember healthcare workers who have died by suicide, and a visible promise to nurture the wellbeing of everyone who works there today.
47 locations across the UK now share this commitment.
Hospitals, practices and care settings that remember healthcare workers who have died by suicide, and support the wellbeing of the colleagues who remain. You would be joining a well-trodden path and a growing coalition.
- 2022The first memorial tree is planted in Ealing, the setting of the fictional planting in This is Going to Hurt.
- GrowthHospitals adopt the idea to remember lost colleagues and signal care for staff.
- Today: 47Sites across the UK, joining together each 17 September.
- Our ambitionA memorial tree in every hospital trust and healthcare setting in the country.
A growing network
Join colleagues who have already planted
From city hospital courtyards to rural practice gardens, organisations across the UK have planted trees, gathered their teams and started conversations that matter.
“The first step in solving a problem must be in admitting that the problem exists, and this is something I tried to highlight in the BBC adaptation of my book, This is Going to Hurt. The series culminated in the death by suicide of a doctor called Shruti – a fictional character based on so many tragic stories. In the show, a tree was planted in her memorial, which has led to trees being planted in real-life hospitals to commemorate lost colleagues. I’m very proud to support Doctors in Distress in raising awareness of this vital issue and protecting the mental health of healthcare workers.”
Founder of the National Memorial Tree Campaign and Doctors in Distress Patron
BAFTA winner, former NHS doctor and bestselling author of This is Going to Hurt
What the tree represents
More than a tree
The memorial remembers healthcare workers collectively, rather than one individual. You do not need to have lost a colleague to take part. Each tree is the visible root of four lasting commitments.
Remembrance
A peaceful, permanent place to remember healthcare workers who have died by suicide, honouring them openly and without stigma.
Care for staff mental health
A public statement that leaders prioritise wellbeing, encourage help-seeking and want colleagues to talk about how they are really doing.
Connection with nature
A tree, or a wider wellbeing space, gives staff somewhere green to pause, breathe and reset during a demanding shift.
A holistic workplace
A launch point for a broader culture of care: peer support, compassionate leadership and environments that treat staff as whole people.
Why it matters
In 2024, a doctor in England and Wales died by suicide around every three weeks, and more than one nurse every week.
Source: ONS, Suicide by occupation in England and Wales: 2023 and 2024, provisional (opens in a new tab)
“There is no healthcare without self-care.”
Behind every figure is a colleague, a family and a team. Much of this is preventable, and it starts with talking.
The national day · 17 September
One day. One national voice.
Planting is just the beginning. Every year on 17 September, the National Suicide Memorial Day for Health and Care Workers, sites gather at their tree and join the conversation online, so that dozens of organisations speak together.
Reduce the stigma
Make it normal to talk about suicide, and about how we are really feeling at work.
Focus on prevention
Signpost support, encourage early help-seeking and look out for one another.
Promote mental health
Champion the wellbeing of healthcare workers as a shared responsibility of leaders and teams.
Ways to take part
- Hold a short gathering or moment of reflection at your tree
- Invite a senior leader to speak about staff wellbeing
- Add a message of hope and encourage colleagues to join in
- Post on social media using the campaign hashtags
- Share Doctors in Distress Support Group information with staff, members and contacts
- Tag Doctors in Distress, and we will share your post with our 16,500+ followers
Campaign hashtags
Use the two lead hashtags on every post so all sites can be found together.
Talking about suicide safely. Keep the focus on hope, support and prevention. Avoid detail about how anyone died, and always signpost help, such as your staff support service, Doctors in Distress Support Groups or Samaritans (116 123).
Planting your memorial tree
Practical guidance
Who can take part?
All organisations working in health and care, in any capacity: NHS trusts, primary care, hospices and care providers, and the bodies that represent, advocate for and support health and care workers. You do not need to have experienced the death of a colleague.
Where should it go?
A suitable green space within or around your setting, ideally somewhere peaceful that colleagues can visit for reflection. No green space? You can still take part with a memorial plaque.
Who needs to be involved?
Secure support from your senior leadership team early. Your communications and estates teams can then help organise the planting and event. For primary care and other settings, we will work with you on the best approach.
Will Doctors in Distress attend?
With a network of over 100 Ambassadors, Trustees and Friends, we will do our best to have someone at your ceremony. Our communications team can also help with press materials and social media.
Choosing a tree
Your estates or green-space team can advise on the best tree for your location. Trees planted through the campaign have included:
Tree and plaque
The host organisation funds and organises the tree and plaque. We supply the plaque artwork template, with the campaign emblem, for you to add your details.
Have space for a larger wellbeing area? You may be able to receive trees at no cost through our partnership with NHS Forest.
For sites with more space
Create a wellbeing space with NHS Forest
If your hospital or site has room for more than a single tree, we can work with you and NHS Forest to create a wellbeing area with the memorial tree at its heart: a place where staff can step outside during their shift.
Trees at no cost
Together with NHS Forest, we look to provide tree whips and saplings free of charge for wellbeing areas.
Volunteer planting
We will try to arrange corporate volunteers to help with the planting on behalf of Doctors in Distress.
A lasting space
Pair the trees with seating, paths and quiet planting to create somewhere staff choose to spend time.
- Get in touchTell us about your site and the space you have in mind.
- Plan togetherYour estates team, NHS Forest and Doctors in Distress agree the layout.
- Order treesWhips and saplings are arranged for the planting season.
- Planting dayStaff and volunteers plant together, a team event in itself.
- 17 SeptemberDedicate the space and join the national day each year.
Whips are planted in winter, so talk to us early.
Bringing colleagues together
Planning your ceremony
The ceremony can be as simple or as formal as you wish. We encourage you to involve colleagues from across your setting and, where appropriate, bereaved family, friends and colleagues.
Suggested running order
- 13:45 Speakers arrive
- 14:00 Attendees arrive and refreshments
- 14:05 Welcome from the host organisation
- 14:10 A senior leader speaks about the importance of staff wellbeing
- 14:15 A chaplain or another individual welcomes all faiths and none, and leads a moment of reflection
- 14:20 A Doctors in Distress representative speaks
- 14:25 Tree planting and photographs, shared on social media
- 14:30 Media interviews and informal gathering
- 15:30 Close
This is only a suggested format. Adapt it to suit your setting and workforce.
We can help with
- A press release template and key messages
- Social media copy and hashtags, and sharing your ceremony with our 16,500+ followers
- A Doctors in Distress speaker, where possible
- The plaque artwork template
Memorial pin badges
Wear your support
Wearing one of our Memorial Badges shows your support for mental health awareness and helps reduce the stigma around suicide. Each badge is a conversation starter: a symbol of solidarity and a reminder that no one should suffer in silence.
£5 per badge · minimum order of 5Purchase pin badges
From remembrance to prevention
Take the next step with Let’s Prevent Suicide.
Your tree shows what your organisation stands for. The next step is building suicide prevention into how your workplace runs, because preventing suicide shouldn’t rest on individuals alone.
Join Let’s Prevent SuicideAfter the planting
The beginning of a longer commitment
A memorial tree is a beginning, not a one-off event. Return to it every 17 September, use it to open conversations about suicide prevention, and let it grow alongside a culture of care for your staff.
Get in touch to plant your treePrefer to email directly? contact@doctors-in-distress.org.uk
If you need support now, contact Samaritans on 116 123, or find crisis support.