The World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe (WHO Europe) conducted a survey that found healthcare professionals across the region had significantly poorer mental health than the wider population, a pattern the agency said was contributing to workforce shortages and undermining the quality of care. To address the lack of comprehensive data, WHO Europe conducted the Mental Health of Nurses and Doctors survey between October 2024 and April 2025.

The survey collected more than 90,000 usable responses from doctors and nurses in 29 countries, making it the largest assessment of clinician mental health in Europe to date.

Participation rates ranged from 1% to 5% of the professional population in most countries and less than 1% in France. The age and gender distribution of the respondents was comparable to that of the healthcare workforce across Europe.

The findings showed high rates of symptoms compatible with depression and anxiety. Violence from patients or relatives and demanding work schedules were the main contributing factors, whereas staunch support from colleagues and managers and the presence of targeted protocols on harassment and violence functioned as protective factors.

Nearly 1 in 3 respondents reported symptoms compatible with major depressive disorder, and 1 in 4 reported symptoms compatible with anxiety disorders. More than 1 in 10 participants experienced suicidal ideation or thoughts of self-harm.

These rates were higher among hospital staff and clinicians working in emergency care settings. The prevalence of these symptoms varies widely between countries.

Features compatible with depression affected 15%-50% of respondents, with an average of 28% and a rate of 31% in France.

France also reported the second highest rate of anxiety disorders (41%) and the highest rate of alcohol dependence (7%).

Although two thirds of the respondents said their work was meaningful and satisfying, far fewer reported satisfactory emotional well-being, defined as having positive thoughts and feeling calm, rested, and energised. In France, only half of the respondents reported adequate emotional well-being.

Levels across Europe were considerably lower than those reported in a 2021 survey using the same questions and lower than those observed in non-health professions, where approximately three quarters of French respondents reported satisfactory emotional well-being.

Half of the respondents reported experiencing at least one form of violence. The rates varied substantially by country and were highest in France, where four out of five clinicians reported exposure. Exposure was most frequent among clinicians working in day hospitals and emergency departments.

Nearly 7 in 10 respondents reported frequently encountering angry behaviour from patients or their relatives. About 1 in 3 reported harassment or threats, and 1 in 10 reported physical violence or sexual harassment. Higher exposure to violence was strongly associated with poorer mental health.

Nonstandard schedules were also linked to higher rates of depression, anxiety, and alcohol dependence. Night duties and rotating shifts were common, particularly in France, where more than 9 out of 10 respondents reported such schedules.

Nearly 1 in 5 respondents worked more than 50 h/wk; in France, this proportion exceeded one third. More than one quarter of European physicians reported working more than 50 h/wk. One fifth of doctors and half of nurses said they routinely worked outside the standard daytime hours.

In France, four out of five clinicians reported such schedules, with the highest proportion in Europe.

Fewer than half of the respondents said they had meaningful autonomy in organising their workload, including the ability to take breaks.

Fewer than one quarter of the participants reported a satisfactory work-life balance.

Support from colleagues and managers was essential for maintaining good mental health, with a lack of support linked to higher rates of depression, anxiety, and intentions to leave the profession. Formal institutional protocols for addressing violence and harassment also contribute to better mental health outcomes among clinicians.

WHO Europe noted that many of the negative factors identified in the survey, including work schedules, institutional safeguards, and decision-making autonomy, were modifiable. The recommended structured interventions include routine monitoring of clinician mental health indicators and transparent evaluation of the measures taken. The organisation emphasised that all actions should be developed collaboratively with relevant stakeholders.

This story was translated from Univadis France, part of the Medscape Professional Network.