Daijiworld Media Network – Brussels

Brussels, Oct 13: A new study by the European branch of the World Health Organization (WHO) has revealed a serious mental health crisis among European doctors and nurses, with one in three reporting depression or anxiety—a rate five times higher than the general population.

WHO Europe Director Hans Kluge described the situation as a “health security crisis” that threatens the integrity of healthcare systems. “More than one in 10 have thought about ending their lives or hurting themselves. This is an unacceptable burden on those who care for us,” he said.

The study, based on 90,000 responses from health workers in the 27 EU countries, Iceland, and Norway, highlighted key risk factors including exposure to violence, long working hours, and night shifts. It also found that nurses and women doctors are more prone to depression and anxiety, while men doctors are more likely to develop alcohol addiction.

Geographically, Latvia and Poland reported the highest levels of depression among health workers, with nearly half of respondents affected, while Denmark and Iceland reported the lowest, at around 15%. The survey also noted that a third of health workers experienced bullying or violent threats in the past year, with 10% facing physical violence or sexual harassment.

The report pointed to long working hours and insecure employment as additional stressors: one in four doctors work more than 50 hours per week, and over 30% of doctors and 25% of nurses are on temporary contracts, heightening anxiety about job security.

WHO called for zero tolerance of workplace violence and harassment, reforms to reduce excessive overtime, and guaranteed access to mental health services for healthcare professionals. Kluge emphasized the urgency, noting that Europe faces a shortage of nearly one million health workers by 2030, making it critical to retain staff and prevent burnout, despair, or violence.