Mental Health of Nurses and Doctors survey in the European Union, Iceland and Norway

The Mental Health or Nurses and Doctors (MeND) survey, conducted by WHO Regional Office for Europe under a contribution agreement with the European Commission, aimed to explore the mental health, well-being and working conditions of doctors and nurses in the 27 European Union countries plus Iceland and Norway.

The survey was disseminated from October 2024 to April 2025 across all 29 countries, obtaining 122 048 responses, of which 90 171 were valid. The findings indicated a high prevalence of mental health conditions and unsafe working conditions – including violence, extended working hours and shift work – across all studied countries. Unsafe working conditions were associated with poorer mental health; conversely, the presence of workplace supports and protective factors was associated with better mental health. Seven policy actions are listed to support Member States in prioritizing action to improve working conditions and monitor progress.

The findings, including country breakdowns, reveal the true cost of years of underinvestment in Europe’s health systems and health workforce.