One-Third of European Doctors and Nurses Report Depression Symptoms, WHO Survey Finds
The European branch of the World Health Organization (WHO) released a survey on Friday, revealing that nearly one-third of doctors and nurses in Europe reported experiencing symptoms of depression. Hans Kluge, the WHO's European director, stated in a press release on Friday: "One in three doctors or nurses reports symptoms of depression or anxiety." He also noted that this figure is five times higher than the rate recorded among the general European population, emphasizing that "more than one in ten" doctors or nurses "have thought about suicide or self-harm." Additionally, the report found that female nurses and doctors are more likely to suffer from depression and anxiety than their male counterparts, while male doctors are more prone to alcoholism.
Professionals in Latvia and Poland reported the highest rates of depression, with nearly half of the participants meeting the threshold for the disorder. In contrast, Denmark and Iceland recorded the lowest prevalence rates of depression (around 15%). The survey, based on responses from 90,000 healthcare professionals in 27 EU countries, as well as Iceland and Norway, showed that one-third of doctors and nurses have been victims of bullying or violent threats at work. Most of these cases were reported in Cyprus, Greece, and Spain. Furthermore, 10% of them have been exposed to physical violence and/or sexual harassment in the past year.
In all the countries surveyed, one in four doctors works more than 50 hours per week. Moreover, 32% of doctors and a quarter of nurses have temporary work contracts, which increases their concern about job security. Kluge recommended a series of measures to address this situation, including zero tolerance for violence and harassment in hospitals, reforming the overtime system, and ensuring patient confidentiality in mental health care.
These measures are particularly important, as Europe is expected to face a shortage of approximately one million healthcare professionals by 2030.
