Khaberni - One-third of doctors and nurses in Europe expressed their belief that they suffer from depression, according to a survey published by the European branch of the World Health Organization on Friday.
A statement quoting the Director of the World Health Organization in Europe, Hans Kluge, stated that "one in every three doctors or nurses reports symptoms of depression or anxiety."
The organization clarified that this figure is five times higher than the rate recorded among the general population in Europe.
Kluge pointed out that "more than one in ten" doctors or nurses "considered suicide or self-harm."
The report noted that female nurses and doctors are more susceptible to depression and anxiety than their male counterparts, while male doctors are more likely to suffer from alcohol addiction.
Healthcare workers in Latvia and Poland report the highest rates of depression, with nearly half of the participants reaching the threshold of this disorder. On the other hand, the lowest prevalence rate of depression is recorded in Denmark and Iceland (around 15%).
The survey, based on responses from 90,000 healthcare professionals from 27 countries of the European Union, Iceland, and Norway, revealed that one-third of the doctors and nurses were subjected to intimidation or violent threats at work. The majority of these cases were reported in Cyprus, Greece, and Spain.
In addition, 10 percent of them experienced physical violence and/or sexual harassment during the past year. In all the countries included, one in four doctors worked more than 50 hours a week.
32 percent of doctors and a quarter of nurses have temporary employment contracts, which increases their concern about job security. Kluge recommended a series of steps to address this situation, including cracking down on violence and harassment in hospitals, reforming the overtime system, and ensuring patient confidentiality in the field of mental health.
These measures are doubly important as Europe is expected to face a shortage of healthcare workers estimated to reach about one million by 2030.
