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Suicide rates amongst healthcare professionals (HCPs) are seven times higher than the rest of the population. Stigma suppressing important conversations around burnout and mental health, combined with the long hours, dark nights and lack of time with loved ones, leaves 43% of healthcare professionals experiencing moderate to severe levels of stress.

This huge, ongoing issue, that is amplified during winter, is left to be tackled one layer at a time.

Although the problem isn’t something we can fix overnight, one thing we could do was bring a little light to HCPs, so during the winter solstice, on the darkest night of the year, we showed them how much we appreciate them.

We gathered hundreds of personal thank yous and projected them onto hospitals and commuter routes, surprising the HCPs who were ending or just starting their shifts with a timely reminder about the huge difference they make. Acknowledging the bigger problem is essential to breaking down the barriers that hold healthcare professionals back from seeking help. But, on this night, our touching messages showed healthcare workers that they weren’t alone, whilst also bringing attention to one of the darkest problems faced within the healthcare industry.