Before most people have finished their morning coffee, an MP’s staffer might have already dealt with a suicidal caller, a victim of domestic abuse or a threat of violence. We’ve been yelled at, cried at and sometimes even physically attacked, all in the course of managing a heavy caseload of constituents’ most intractable problems. So, when I read the results of the latest survey by the wellness working group (WWG) I was not surprised to learn that half of us are experiencing clinical levels of psychological distress.

Psychological distress is a range of emotional or cognitive suffering, such as anxiety or depression, that impairs a person’s ability to cope with ordinary daily life and functioning. It makes you wonder why urgent action is not in place to support these staff members, who are holding together the day-to-day functioning of democracy as well as supporting constituents throughout the UK.

As the office manager for the Labour MP for Preston, and an executive committee member for the WWG, I encounter this distress every day. In an MP’s email inbox are images that no one should see. These include murdered children, flayed animals, nude images and graphic pictures of war zones, all sent by constituents to try to strengthen their points or illustrate the reality of the situations they face. While photos are often triggering, so is some written communication from constituents who urgently need their MP’s help. Vivid descriptions of child abuse, domestic violence, physical ill health or the thoughts of people who are severely mentally ill or suicidal take a huge........

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