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One in three medical doctors and nurses in Europe report affected by despair or anxiousness, a examine printed Friday by the European department of the World Well being Group (WHO) stated.
The speed is 5 occasions larger than that among the many common inhabitants in Europe, the report stated.
“The mental health crisis among our health workers is a health security crisis, threatening the integrity of our health systems,” WHO Europe director Hans Kluge stated in an announcement.
“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 stated.
Medical doctors and nurses who expertise violence, work persistently lengthy hours, and work in shifts (particularly at evening) are more likely to be depressed and anxious and to have suicidal ideas, the report stated.
In addition they present double the prevalence of suicidal ideas in comparison with the overall inhabitants.
Nurses and ladies medical doctors usually tend to undergo from despair and anxiousness, whereas males medical doctors usually tend to develop alcohol dependancy, the report stated.
Well being staff in Latvia and Poland reported the very best ranges of despair, with nearly half of respondents.
The nations with the bottom reported ranges have been Denmark and Iceland, at round 15%.
The examine—primarily based on 90,000 responses from well being staff within the 27 European Union nations in addition to Iceland and Norway—additionally revealed {that a} third of medical doctors and nurses had skilled bullying or violent threats at work up to now yr.
10% skilled bodily violence and/or sexual harassment.
One in 4 medical doctors labored greater than 50 hours per week, the report stated.
Greater than 30% of medical doctors and 1 / 4 of nurses are on short-term employment contracts, “which is strongly linked to increased anxiety about job security”, the report stated.
It known as for zero tolerance of violence and harassment in healthcare settings, a reform to finish the tradition of time beyond regulation and lengthy working hours, and assured entry to psychological well being companies for healthcare professionals.
The measures have been much more pressing given the shortage of healthcare personnel throughout Europe, the report stated.
“With Europe facing a shortage of nearly one million health workers by 2030, we cannot afford to lose them to burnout, despair, or violence,” Kluge stated.
© 2025 AFP
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A 3rd of Europe’s medical doctors, nurses undergo despair: WHO (2025, October 10)
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