WHO: One in Ten Doctors and Nurses in Europe Has Had Thoughts of Self-Harm

Doctors and nurses in Europe are working in conditions that threaten their mental health. An alarmingly high proportion of them admit to having had thoughts of self-harm or a wish that they were “better off dead.” This is shown by a new study from the World Health Organization (WHO) Europe, published on the occasion of World Mental Health Day, reports zdrave.net.

The Mental Health of Nurses and Doctors survey (MeND) is the largest to date, with over 90,000 participants from all EU member states, as well as Iceland and Norway. Its findings reveal the serious consequences of long-standing underinvestment in healthcare systems and personnel in Europe.

According to the results, 1 in 3 doctors and nurses has experienced bullying or threats in the workplace over the past year. 10% have been victims of physical or sexual violence.
One in four doctors works over 50 hours per week. Nearly one-third of medical professionals are on temporary employment contracts—a factor associated with increased anxiety and insecurity.

The most alarming conclusion is that 1 in 10 medical professionals has had passive suicidal thoughts in the last two weeks—a precursor to actual suicidal behavior. Doctors and nurses show a frequency of such thoughts twice as high as that of the general population.

The results of the MeND study are a stark reminder that healthcare systems are only as strong as the people who drive them, commented Dr. Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe.
“One in three healthcare workers reports depression or anxiety. More than one in ten has had thoughts of ending their life. This is an unacceptable burden for those who care for us,” he emphasized.

Kluge called for immediate measures—implementing zero tolerance for violence and harassment in the workplace, reforming shift patterns, and ending the culture of working to exhaustion. More mental health support for medical staff is also necessary, as is accountability from the management of healthcare facilities.

According to WHO data, between 11% and 34% of healthcare workers are considering leaving the profession, and up to 40% of those suffering from depression have taken sick leave in the past year. The expected shortage of medical personnel in Europe by 2030 is 940,000 people.

“We cannot afford to lose healthcare workers to burnout, despair, or violence. Their well-being is not just a moral obligation—it is the foundation of safe and high-quality care,” Dr. Kluge concluded.