One third of doctors and nurses in Europe believe they suffer from depression, according to a survey published Friday by the European branch of the World Health Organization (WHO).

A statement quoted Hans Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, saying “One in three doctors or nurses reports symptoms of depression or anxiety.” The organization noted that this figure is five times higher than the rate recorded among the general European population.

Kluge pointed out that “more than one in ten” doctors or nurses “have thought about suicide or self-harm.”

The report observed that female nurses and doctors are more prone 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 participants reaching the threshold for this disorder. In contrast, the lowest depression rates are recorded in Denmark and Iceland (around 15%).

The survey, based on responses from 90,000 healthcare professionals from 27 EU countries plus Iceland and Norway, found that one third of doctors and nurses have experienced intimidation or violent threats at work. The highest number of such cases were recorded in Cyprus, Greece, and Spain.

Additionally, 10% of them experienced physical violence and/or sexual harassment in the past year.

In all surveyed countries, one in four doctors works more than 50 hours per week.

Thirty-two percent of doctors and a quarter of nurses have temporary contracts, increasing their job security concerns.

Kluge recommended a set of measures to address this reality, including stricter actions against violence and harassment in hospitals, reforming overtime work systems, and ensuring patient confidentiality in mental health care.

These measures are especially important as Europe is expected to face a shortage of healthcare workers estimated to reach about one million by 2030.