A quarter of doctors in Europe work more than 50 hours a week. Hands heal, minds suffer: an alarming diagnosis for European medicine Healthcare
This Friday, as the world marks Mental Health Day, the World Health Organization (WHO) presented the results of its largest study to date on the mental health of healthcare workers in Europe. His findings are staggering: one in three doctors suffer from depression or anxiety, and one in ten have experienced passive suicidal ideation in the past two weeks.
The survey covered more than 90 thousand doctors and nurses from all countries of the European Union, as well as Iceland and Norway. Its findings highlight a systemic crisis caused by years of underfunding of health care and disregard for the well-being of those who save lives every day.
Anxiety and suicidal ideation
Doctors and nurses work in conditions that undermine their mental health: a third of them face threats or bullying, and one in ten experience physical violence or sexual harassment. A quarter of doctors work more than 50 hours a week; a significant portion of the medical staff live in constant anxiety due to temporary work contracts.
Particularly alarming is that 10 percent of those surveyed admitted that they sometimes have thoughts of suicide or harming their health. This kind of “passive” suicidal thoughts are not just fleeting experiences, but harbingers of possible tragedies. Health care workers who work in violent environments, grueling shifts, and night shifts are twice as likely to experience such thoughts as the average person.
“The survey results are a stark reminder that the effectiveness of our health systems depends directly on the health of those who work there,” said Hans Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, stressing that the current situation can be changed. Proposed measures include zero tolerance for violence and harassment, revisions to shift and overtime schedules, reducing workload through effective hiring and digitalization, and ensuring access to confidential psychological support.
Enthusiasm in spite of stress
Despite the pressure of external circumstances and fatigue, most doctors continue to see meaning in their work. Three out of four doctors and two out of three nurses in the survey said they were satisfied with their profession and felt it was important. This shows deep commitment, but also highlights the need for systemic support to maintain that passion and prevent burnout, the report’s authors note.
Mélanie Desbarrey, a radiology specialist from France, says that fatigue and overload often lead to mistakes. According to her, among medical students in France, 66 percent have experienced depression at least once, and 21 percent have experienced suicidal ideation. She believes compliance with work-hour laws and adequate funding are key to protecting the mental health of health care workers.
The problem extends far beyond personal well-being. Mental exhaustion among healthcare workers directly impacts patients and society as a whole. In some countries, up to 40 percent of doctors and nurses with symptoms of depression took sick leave, and up to a third thought about leaving the profession. This means not only a staffing shortage, but also a decrease in the quality of medical care, an increase in waiting times and an increase in the workload on the remaining staff.
Working on mistakes
WHO calls on countries to take immediate action. Priority steps include eliminating violence, flexible shift planning, fair distribution of overtime, overall reduction of workload, expanding access to psychological care and regular monitoring of the condition of doctors. All these measures can be implemented by redistributing existing resources.
“We cannot afford to lose doctors due to burnout, depression or violence,” concluded Hans Kluge. “Caring for their well-being is not just a moral duty. This is the guarantee that every patient will receive timely and high-quality care.”