WHO: Third of European doctors and nurses have depression or anxiety

One in three European doctors and nurses have experienced depression or anxiety in the past two weeks and more than one in 10 have had suicidal thoughts, the region’s largest ever mental health survey has found.The World Health Organization (WHO) spoke to more than 90 000 healthcare workers (37 864 doctors and 52 307 nurses) in 29 European countries for the Mental Health of Nurses and Doctors (Mend) survey and concluded that their poor mental health was a threat to the region’s healthcare security.1Healthcare workers across Europe were found to be overworked, in precarious labour conditions, and at risk of violence. The report concluded that this was the “true cost of years of underinvestment in Europe’s health systems and health workforce.”Hans Kluge, WHO regional director for Europe, said, “Europe’s health systems are under threat, and mental health is at the heart of the crisis. Supporting the mental health of our…