A new World Health Organization (WHO) report has unveiled a growing mental health emergency among Europe’s healthcare workers, revealing that one in three doctors and nurses suffers from depression or anxiety, and more than one in ten has contemplated suicide or self-harm.
The findings, presented by Dr. Hans Kluge, WHO’s Regional Director for Europe, paint a stark picture of a profession under immense strain. Conducted across all EU member states, as well as Iceland and Norway, it is the WHO’s largest survey yet on the wellbeing of healthcare workers.
An Alarming Burden on Those Who Care for Others
Dr. Kluge called the situation “an unacceptable burden on those who care for us,” warning that this mental health crisis threatens not only individual workers but also the stability of Europe’s entire healthcare system. With long working hours, excessive workload, shift work, exposure to violence, and unsafe environments cited as key contributors, burnout and staff shortages are now feeding into one another in a vicious cycle.
The WHO estimates that, unless urgent action is taken, Europe could face a shortfall of nearly one million healthcare workers by 2030. This shortage risks longer waiting times, declining care quality, and increased pressure on those who remain in the field.
EU Institutions Step In
The European Commission co-funded the WHO study as part of a joint effort to address what has become a continental crisis. In response, the European Parliament’s Public Health (SANT) and Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL) committees are preparing a comprehensive “EU Health Workforce Crisis Plan.”
The plan, led by Loucas Fourlas (EPP) and Ruggero Razza (ECR), will focus on improving mental health support, preventing burnout, offering flexible and part-time working options, and reducing bureaucratic burdens on medical staff. However, the process has faced delays, and the first draft—expected by September 30—has yet to be submitted.
Union Calls for Stronger Protection
The European Public Service Union (EPSU), representing healthcare workers, said the report confirms what unions have long warned about—systemic strain that predates COVID-19 but was amplified by the pandemic. EPSU’s health policy officer, Adam Rogalewski, has renewed calls for an EU directive addressing psychological risk factors in the workplace, emphasizing that mental health must be treated as a core component of occupational safety.
A Call for Action
Shadow rapporteur András Kulja echoed these concerns, urging both the European Commission and member states to ensure mental health support becomes a standard part of healthcare employment policy. “If we don’t protect those who care for us,” he said, “we risk losing them altogether.”
As the EU navigates an ageing population and post-pandemic recovery, the WHO’s warning serves as a wake-up call: the health of Europe’s healthcare workers is not just a workforce issue—it’s a matter of public health security.
In Dr. Kluge’s words, “When doctors and nurses break under pressure, it’s not only they who suffer—we all pay the price.”
