Pöördumine

UN City, Marmorvej 51 Tel.: +45 45 33 70 00 Email: [email protected] DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø Denmark

Fax: +45 45 33 70 01 Website: https://www.who.int/europe

ORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION ORGANISATION MONDIALE DE LA SANTÉ

WELTGESUNDHEITSORGANISATION ВСЕМИРНАЯ ОРГАНИЗАЦИЯ ЗДРАВООХРАНЕНИЯ

Date: 06 October 2025

Ms Helen Sõber

Adviser

European Union Affairs and International Co-

operation Department

Ministry of Social Affairs

Suur-Ameerika 1

10122 Tallinn

Estonia

REGIONAL OFFICE FOR EUROPE BUREAU RÉGIONAL DE L’EUROPE

REGIONALBÜRO FÜR EUROPA ЕВРОПЕЙСКОЕ РЕГИОНАЛЬНОЕ БЮРО

Head office:

UN City, Marmorvej 51, DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark

Tel.: +45 45 33 70 00; Fax: +45 45 33 70 01

Email: [email protected] Website: https://www.who.int/europe

Our reference: Notre référence: Unser Zeichen: См. наш номер:

Your reference: Votre référence: Ihr Zeichen: На Ваш номер:

Dear Ms Sõber,

Country profile from the MeND report on the Mental health and Well-being of Nurses and Doctors in the EU,

Iceland and Norway

WHO Regional Office for Europe is launching the MeND report (Mental health and well-being of nurses and doctors in

the European Union, Iceland and Norway). The report presents the findings of the MeND survey, conducted in 2024/25,

which examined the mental health and well-being of doctors and nurses, and the association between mental health

outcomes and select working conditions.

The survey was disseminated through European medical and nursing associations and received over 120,000 responses

across 29 countries - making it the largest of its kind ever undertaken in Europe. It highlights both the scale of the

challenges and the urgent need for action to support the health and care workforce. The full report will be launched and

available to you on October 10th.

Ahead of the launch, we are providing you with a country profile for your information. This profile presents a snapshot of

the findings specific to your country, offering an indicative view of trends and challenges as they appear within the

broader European context.

We look forward to engaging further and hope you will join us for the virtual side event of the 75th session of the WHO

Regional Committee for Europe on Oct 10th, where we will present the report and reflect on the implications of the

findings with Member States and other key stakeholders.

Date and time: Friday, 10 October 2025, from 10:00 to 11:30 (CEST)

Register here for the event.

Please feel free to reach out to the Mental Health Flagship team, led by Dr Ledia Lazëri, Regional Adviser for Mental

Health and Well-being, for any additional guidance on [email protected].

Sincerely,

Dr Natasha Azzopardi Muscat

Director,

Division of Health Systems

– 2 –

Encls: Country profile

Copy for information to:

Ms Agne Nettan-Sepp, Head, European Union Affairs and International Co-operation Department, Ministry of

Social Affairs, Suur-Ameerika 1, 10129 Tallinn, Estonia

H.E. Ms Riia Salsa-Audiffren, Ambassador Representative of the Republic of Estonia, Permanent Mission of

the Republic of Estonia to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva, Chemin

du Petit-Saconnex 28A, CH-1209 Genève, Switzerland

H.E. Mr Andre Pung, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Embassy of the Republic of Estonia,

Frederiksgade 19, 4th floor, 1265 Copenhagen K, Denmark

Ms Kristina Köhler, Liaison Officer, WHO Country Office, Estonia, Paldiski Road 81, 10617 Tallinn, Estonia

MeND Mental Health of Nurses and Doctors survey in the European Union, Iceland and Norway80

ESTONIA | COUNTRY PROFILE

TOTAL COUNTRY POPULATION: 1 331 057

Doctors and nurses per 10 000 population

Nurse to doctor ratio

Aged 55 years and older (%)

ESTONIA 101.9 2.0 32.9

EU27+2 123.5 2.2 32.0

BACKGROUND

number of respondents

380

number of respondents

475

number of respondents

84

number of respondents

12

Female doctors

Female nurses

Male doctors

Male nurses

proportion of responses in relation to total subgroup population

11.7%

proportion of responses in relation to total subgroup population

5.6%

proportion of responses in relation to total subgroup population

6.8%

proportion of responses in relation to total subgroup population

3.5%

28% 24%

4%

14%

0%

25%

50%

75%

Alcohol dependence

Anxiety Depression Passive suicidal thoughts

Mean prevalence EU27+2

Pr ev

al en

ce

Country prevalence Condition

27%

19%

6% 11%

0%

25%

50%

75%

Alcohol dependence

Anxiety Depression Passive suicidal thoughts

Condition Mean prevalence EU27+2

Pr ev

al en

ce

Country prevalence

32%

24%

2%

13%

26%

18%

4% 9%

Doctors Nurses

SAMPLE CHARACTERISTICS

PREVALENCE OF MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS

Note: Depression= Probable major depressive disorder as estimated using the PHQ-9; Anxiety= Probable generalized anxiety disorder as estimated using the GAD-7; Alcohol dependence= probable alcohol dependence as estimated using the CAGE screening tool; Passive suicidal thoughts= Presence of thoughts that one would be better off dead or of wanting to harm oneself, measured using the ninth item of the PHQ-9. For detailed information, see Annex 1: Methodology.

MeND Mental Health of Nurses and Doctors survey in the European Union, Iceland and Norway Annex 1: Methodology

81

ESTONIA | COUNTRY PROFILE

50

51

EU27+2 mean aggregated score: 51

Doctor

Nurse

0 25 50 75 100 Mean WHO−5 Well−being index score

Pr of

es si

on 51

53

Doctors

Nurses

5.4%

12.1%

Reported intention to leave profession

Mean emotional well−being scores by profession

The scale ranges from 0 to 100, with a score above 50 being perceived as good wellbeing.

Sick leave due to mental health problems

EU27+ average

9.1%

EU27+ average

15.4%

WELL-BEING

WORKING CONDITIONS

Doctors

Nurses

9.9%

10.7%

EU27+ average

7.4%

EU27+ average

10.5%

Multiple job positions

Extended working hours

Frequent night shifts Frequent rotating shifts

Temporary contracts

0

20

40

60

80

100

Influence over work

Influence over work

(breaks)

Colleague support Support from a superior

Work−life balance

0

20

40

60

80

100

Managing patient and relative anger

Sexual harassment

Violent threats Physical violence

Bullying

0

20

40

60

80

100 Work council or union

Mechanisms for employee

feedback

Stress action plan Harassment protocol

Violence protocol

0

20

40

60

80

100

Working hours and contracts Social support and control

Violence Workplace support structures

Ri sk

fa ct

or s

Pr ot

ec tiv

e fa

ct or

s

Estonia EU27+2

SICK LEAVE AND INTENTION TO LEAVE

 Estonia     EU27+2

UN City, Marmorvej 51 Tel.: +45 45 33 70 00 Email: [email protected] DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø Denmark

Fax: +45 45 33 70 01 Website: https://www.who.int/europe

ORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION ORGANISATION MONDIALE DE LA SANTÉ

WELTGESUNDHEITSORGANISATION ВСЕМИРНАЯ ОРГАНИЗАЦИЯ ЗДРАВООХРАНЕНИЯ

Date: 06 October 2025

Ms Helen Sõber

Adviser

European Union Affairs and International Co-

operation Department

Ministry of Social Affairs

Suur-Ameerika 1

10122 Tallinn

Estonia

REGIONAL OFFICE FOR EUROPE BUREAU RÉGIONAL DE L’EUROPE

REGIONALBÜRO FÜR EUROPA ЕВРОПЕЙСКОЕ РЕГИОНАЛЬНОЕ БЮРО

Head office:

UN City, Marmorvej 51, DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark

Tel.: +45 45 33 70 00; Fax: +45 45 33 70 01

Email: [email protected] Website: https://www.who.int/europe

Our reference: Notre référence: Unser Zeichen: См. наш номер:

Your reference: Votre référence: Ihr Zeichen: На Ваш номер:

Dear Ms Sõber,

Country profile from the MeND report on the Mental health and Well-being of Nurses and Doctors in the EU,

Iceland and Norway

WHO Regional Office for Europe is launching the MeND report (Mental health and well-being of nurses and doctors in

the European Union, Iceland and Norway). The report presents the findings of the MeND survey, conducted in 2024/25,

which examined the mental health and well-being of doctors and nurses, and the association between mental health

outcomes and select working conditions.

The survey was disseminated through European medical and nursing associations and received over 120,000 responses

across 29 countries - making it the largest of its kind ever undertaken in Europe. It highlights both the scale of the

challenges and the urgent need for action to support the health and care workforce. The full report will be launched and

available to you on October 10th.

Ahead of the launch, we are providing you with a country profile for your information. This profile presents a snapshot of

the findings specific to your country, offering an indicative view of trends and challenges as they appear within the

broader European context.

We look forward to engaging further and hope you will join us for the virtual side event of the 75th session of the WHO

Regional Committee for Europe on Oct 10th, where we will present the report and reflect on the implications of the

findings with Member States and other key stakeholders.

Date and time: Friday, 10 October 2025, from 10:00 to 11:30 (CEST)

Register here for the event.

Please feel free to reach out to the Mental Health Flagship team, led by Dr Ledia Lazëri, Regional Adviser for Mental

Health and Well-being, for any additional guidance on [email protected].

Sincerely,

Dr Natasha Azzopardi Muscat

Director,

Division of Health Systems

– 2 –

Encls: Country profile

Copy for information to:

Ms Agne Nettan-Sepp, Head, European Union Affairs and International Co-operation Department, Ministry of

Social Affairs, Suur-Ameerika 1, 10129 Tallinn, Estonia

H.E. Ms Riia Salsa-Audiffren, Ambassador Representative of the Republic of Estonia, Permanent Mission of

the Republic of Estonia to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva, Chemin

du Petit-Saconnex 28A, CH-1209 Genève, Switzerland

H.E. Mr Andre Pung, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Embassy of the Republic of Estonia,

Frederiksgade 19, 4th floor, 1265 Copenhagen K, Denmark

Ms Kristina Köhler, Liaison Officer, WHO Country Office, Estonia, Paldiski Road 81, 10617 Tallinn, Estonia

MeND Mental Health of Nurses and Doctors survey in the European Union, Iceland and Norway80

ESTONIA | COUNTRY PROFILE

TOTAL COUNTRY POPULATION: 1 331 057

Doctors and nurses per 10 000 population

Nurse to doctor ratio

Aged 55 years and older (%)

ESTONIA 101.9 2.0 32.9

EU27+2 123.5 2.2 32.0

BACKGROUND

number of respondents

380

number of respondents

475

number of respondents

84

number of respondents

12

Female doctors

Female nurses

Male doctors

Male nurses

proportion of responses in relation to total subgroup population

11.7%

proportion of responses in relation to total subgroup population

5.6%

proportion of responses in relation to total subgroup population

6.8%

proportion of responses in relation to total subgroup population

3.5%

28% 24%

4%

14%

0%

25%

50%

75%

Alcohol dependence

Anxiety Depression Passive suicidal thoughts

Mean prevalence EU27+2

Pr ev

al en

ce

Country prevalence Condition

27%

19%

6% 11%

0%

25%

50%

75%

Alcohol dependence

Anxiety Depression Passive suicidal thoughts

Condition Mean prevalence EU27+2

Pr ev

al en

ce

Country prevalence

32%

24%

2%

13%

26%

18%

4% 9%

Doctors Nurses

SAMPLE CHARACTERISTICS

PREVALENCE OF MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS

Note: Depression= Probable major depressive disorder as estimated using the PHQ-9; Anxiety= Probable generalized anxiety disorder as estimated using the GAD-7; Alcohol dependence= probable alcohol dependence as estimated using the CAGE screening tool; Passive suicidal thoughts= Presence of thoughts that one would be better off dead or of wanting to harm oneself, measured using the ninth item of the PHQ-9. For detailed information, see Annex 1: Methodology.

MeND Mental Health of Nurses and Doctors survey in the European Union, Iceland and Norway Annex 1: Methodology

81

ESTONIA | COUNTRY PROFILE

50

51

EU27+2 mean aggregated score: 51

Doctor

Nurse

0 25 50 75 100 Mean WHO−5 Well−being index score

Pr of

es si

on 51

53

Doctors

Nurses

5.4%

12.1%

Reported intention to leave profession

Mean emotional well−being scores by profession

The scale ranges from 0 to 100, with a score above 50 being perceived as good wellbeing.

Sick leave due to mental health problems

EU27+ average

9.1%

EU27+ average

15.4%

WELL-BEING

WORKING CONDITIONS

Doctors

Nurses

9.9%

10.7%

EU27+ average

7.4%

EU27+ average

10.5%

Multiple job positions

Extended working hours

Frequent night shifts Frequent rotating shifts

Temporary contracts

0

20

40

60

80

100

Influence over work

Influence over work

(breaks)

Colleague support Support from a superior

Work−life balance

0

20

40

60

80

100

Managing patient and relative anger

Sexual harassment

Violent threats Physical violence

Bullying

0

20

40

60

80

100 Work council or union

Mechanisms for employee

feedback

Stress action plan Harassment protocol

Violence protocol

0

20

40

60

80

100

Working hours and contracts Social support and control

Violence Workplace support structures

Ri sk

fa ct

or s

Pr ot

ec tiv

e fa

ct or

s

Estonia EU27+2

SICK LEAVE AND INTENTION TO LEAVE

 Estonia     EU27+2