A study of 315 staff working for MPs found that 42% met the clinical definition of experiencing psychological distress, three times higher than in the general population. They face similar levels of psychological distress as frontline NHS workers, amid a ‘toxic’ workload and fears for their safety. MPs’ caseworkers said there was a ‘worrying upturn’ in the number of actively suicidal people seeking help in the past year. Two-thirds described their work as emotionally draining and one in ten said it was ‘harrowing’. It was not unusual for them to open horrifying mail detailing child abuse or containing pictures of maimed or dead children.