Many Doctors and Nurses in Europe Suffer from Depression, WHO Reports
Nemzetközi hírek, 14 Oct 2025
According to a recent WHO Europe study, about one-third of doctors and nurses across Europe experience symptoms of depression or anxiety, which is five times higher than the general population.
The survey, involving 90,000 healthcare workers from EU countries, Iceland, and Norway, also revealed that over 10% had suicidal or self-harm thoughts.
Women in healthcare – especially nurses and female doctors – are more prone to depression and anxiety, while male doctors are more likely to develop alcohol dependency. The highest depression rates were found in Latvia and Poland, while the lowest were in Denmark and Iceland.
The study highlights severe workplace challenges:
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25% of doctors work more than 50 hours per week
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Only 32% of doctors and 25% of nurses have permanent contracts, which increases job insecurity
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One-third have experienced threats or intimidation at work, with physical violence and sexual harassment reported by 10%, especially in Cyprus, Greece, and Spain
WHO Regional Director Hans Kluge warned that this mental health crisis threatens the integrity of healthcare systems, especially amid Europe's growing healthcare workforce shortage – projected to reach 1 million unfilled positions by 2030.
"We cannot afford to lose healthcare workers to exhaustion, despair, or violence,"
-Kluge stated.
