At the front line, with little room to breathe
Published on March 3, 2026.
The WHO/Europe’s Mental Health of Nurses and Doctors (MeND) survey, the largest survey of the mental health of doctors and nurses in the European Union, Iceland and Norway, revealed that psychological distress among health workers is widespread, largely due to systemic pressures, inadequate working conditions, and poor mental health support. The survey also revealed that over 100,000 doctors, nurses and doctors participated in the survey. The pace of emergency care leaves little time for planned teaching or reflection, and staff rotating between units, particularly those from emergency medicine, are often marginalized. These challenges are exacerbated by chronic workforce shortages affecting the entire WHO European Region, with estimates suggesting a projected shortfall of nearly 1 million health and care workers across the Region by 2030.
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