ORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION
ORGANISATION MONDIALE DE LA SANTÉ
WELTGESUNDHEITSORGANISATION Date: 06 October 2025
ВСЕМИРНАЯ ОРГАНИЗАЦИЯ ЗДРАВООХРАНЕНИЯ
REGIONAL OFFICE FOR EUROPE Ms Helen Sõber
BUREAU RÉGIONAL DE L’EUROPE
REGIONALBÜRO FÜR EUROPA
Adviser
ЕВРОПЕЙСКОЕ РЕГИОНАЛЬНОЕ БЮРО European Union Affairs and International Co-
Head office:
operation Department
UN City, Marmorvej 51, Ministry of Social Affairs
DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark Suur-Ameerika 1
Tel.: +45 45 33 70 00; Fax: +45 45 33 70 01
Email:
[email protected] 10122 Tallinn
Website: https://www.who.int/europe Estonia
Our reference: Your reference:
Notre référence: Votre référence:
Unser Zeichen: Ihr Zeichen:
См. наш номер: 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
UN City, Marmorvej 51 Tel.: +45 45 33 70 00 Email:
[email protected]
DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø Fax: +45 45 33 70 01 Website: https://www.who.int/europe
Denmark
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
–2–
ESTONIA | COUNTRY PROFILE
BACKGROUND
TOTAL COUNTRY
POPULATION:
1 331 057
Doctors and nurses Nurse to doctor Aged 55 years
per 10 000 population ratio and older (%)
ESTONIA 101.9 2.0 32.9
EU27+2 123.5 2.2 32.0
SAMPLE CHARACTERISTICS
proportion of responses proportion of responses
number of number of
in relation to total in relation to total
respondents respondents
subgroup population subgroup population
Female Male
doctors 380 11.7% doctors 84 6.8%
proportion of responses proportion of responses
number of number of
in relation to total in relation to total
respondents respondents
subgroup population subgroup population
Female Male
nurses 475 5.6% nurses 12 3.5%
PREVALENCE OF MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS
Doctors Nurses
75% 75%
50% 50%
32%
Prevalence
Prevalence
28% 27%
24% 24% 26%
25% 19% 25%
18%
14% 13%
11% 9%
4% 6%
2% 4%
0% 0%
Alcohol Anxiety Depression Passive suicidal Alcohol Anxiety Depression Passive suicidal
dependence thoughts dependence thoughts
Condition Condition
Country prevalence Mean prevalence EU27+2 Country prevalence Mean prevalence EU27+2
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
80 Mental Health of Nurses and Doctors survey in the European Union, Iceland and Norway
ESTONIA | COUNTRY PROFILE
WELL-BEING
Mean emotional EU27+2 mean aggregated score: 51
well−being scores Nurse 53
by profession
Profession
50
The scale ranges from 0 to 100, with a
score above 50 being perceived as good Doctor 51
wellbeing. 51
Estonia 0 25 50 75 100
EU27+2 Mean WHO−5 Well−being index score
WORKING CONDITIONS
Working hours and contracts Social support and control
Multiple job positions Influence over work
100 100
80 80
60 60
Influence
Extended 40 Temporary Work−life
over work 40
working hours contracts balance
20
(breaks) 20
0 0
Protective factors
Risk factors
Frequent night shifts Frequent rotating shifts Colleague support Support from a superior
Violence Workplace support structures
Managing patient and relative anger Work council or union
100 100
80 80
60 60
Sexual harassment Bullying Mechanisms
40 40 Violence
for employee
20 protocol
feedback 20
0 0
Violent threats Physical violence Stress action plan Harassment protocol
Estonia EU27+2
SICK LEAVE AND INTENTION TO LEAVE
Reported intention to leave profession Sick leave due to mental health problems
EU27+ average EU27+ average
Doctors 5.4% 9.1%
Doctors 9.9% 7.4%
EU27+ average EU27+ average
Nurses 12.1% 15.4%
Nurses 10.7% 10.5%
Annex 1: Methodology
81
Saatja: "MHF" <
[email protected]>
Saaja: "Helen Sõber - SOM" <
[email protected]>
Teema: EST: Country profile from the MeND report on the Mental health and Well-being of Nurses and Doctors in the EU, Iceland and Norway
Kuupäev: 2025-10-07 12:58
Tähelepanu! Tegemist on välisvõrgust saabunud kirjaga.
Tundmatu saatja korral palume linke ja faile mitte avada.
On behalf of Dr Natasha Azzopardi Muscat
Dear Colleague,
Please find attached a letter from WHO Regional Office for Europe,
together with your country profile from the MeND Report on the Mental
Health and Well-being of Nurses and Doctors in the EU, Iceland and Norway.
The letter provides information on the forthcoming launch of the MeND
report and outlines the relevance of the findings to your country. The
accompanying profile offers a concise overview of country level findings
within the wider European picture.
We also wish to draw your attention to the virtual side event of the 75th
session of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe, during which the report
will be presented.
Date and time: Friday, 10 October 2025, 10:00–11:30 (CEST)
Register
<https://who.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_d6DrkHpgR2-TahzL4msdjQ#/registrat
ion> here
With kind regards,
Mental Health Flagship Team
WHO European Region