A union has called for helplines and support to be put in place to help healthcare workers who are struggling to cope with the impact of coronavirus.
New research shows that almost half of the 14,000 health employees surveyed said they were finding it hard to cope, with some experiencing suicidal thoughts.
The number included A&E staff, paramedics, nurses, porters and healthcare assistants.
Unison wants a 24-hour helpline in place to help those on the front line in the fight against Covid-19.
The union said that they were urgently needed to support those experiencing burnout as hospital admissions rise ever further.
Some of those surveyed said they had experienced post traumatic stress disorder symptoms and panic attacks.
Others said they felt helpless when supporting the patients in their care, while some quit their jobs altogether.
As well as the strains of work, issues such as having to leave rented accommodation because of their landlords concerns around Covid.
Only half of the respondents said that they'd actively sought help for their mental health, with many sharing the burden with colleagues, friends and family.
Unison's head of health Sara Gorton said: "The pressure on staff of keeping us safe during Covid has been relentless.
"Many are exhausted with no let-up in sight given the increase in hospital admissions and backlog of cancelled treatments. Others are traumatised from seeing patients die before their time - no one can comprehend the toll this has taken.
"Pay rates must rise soon or staff could leave. The Government needs to step in to help the NHS hold on to people. That means supporting their mental health as well as their financial wellbeing.
"To help avoid an exodus, ministers should extend psychological support and guarantee a decent pay increase."
