More than one-third of healthcare professionals report symptoms of depression or anxiety. This issue is exacerbated by a high prevalence of temporary work and forced overtime. The second analyzed more than 90,000 responses from health workers in 27 members of the European Union, Iceland, and Norway. It paints a tragic portrait of the circumstances these caregivers must navigate as they continue to protect the public.
The findings indicate that over 30% of doctors are employed on temporary contracts, which contributes to job insecurity and stress. Like truck drivers, one in four nurses report never being in control of their work schedules. These employment conditions, combined with long work hours, seriously take a toll on their mental health. Alarmingly, one out of every four doctors routinely works more than 50 hours per week. That’s a rate five times higher than their peers in the general population!
Impact of Work Conditions on Mental Health
The report also reports a significant connection between adverse work conditions and poor mental health. In fact, healthcare workers who face violence on the job and those that work long, demanding hours both have higher rates of depression and anxiety. In fact, statistics state that 10% of physicians have faced physical violence or sexual harassment in the workplace. Even more directly, nurses are on the frontline of this disturbing reality. In addition, one in three health workers said they faced bullying or violent intimidation at work in the past year.
In Latvia and Poland, health care workers are experiencing suicidal levels of depression. Nearly 48% say they have endured mental health challenges. Denmark and Iceland had the lowest rates of violence and harassment, at 15%. These disparities point to the importance of working environments in shaping the mental health landscape throughout Europe.
Urgent Call for Reform
In their comments, Hans Kluge, the WHO Regional Director for Europe, and other leaders underscored the need for immediate action. He stated, “The mental health crisis among our health workers is a health security crisis, threatening the integrity of our health systems.” Among other recommendations, the report calls for a zero tolerance approach to violence and harassment in all healthcare settings. Lastly, it demands reforms to eliminate the overtime culture and mandatory long working hours. Additionally, it emphasizes the need for guaranteed access to mental health services for our healthcare professionals.
Kluge further pointed out the gravity of the situation by saying, “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 particularly emphasized the crisis shortage of healthcare personnel across Europe. By 2030, he forecasts a shortage of almost one million employees. “We cannot afford to lose them to burnout, despair, or violence,” he added.
