Ukraine workforce survey links workplace violence to depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts

A nationwide cross-sectional survey assessed mental health among 23,805 doctors and nurses working in Ukraine during wartime. Conducted from May to September 2025 within a European Commission-funded WHO initiative, the anonymous online survey used validated self-report instruments, including the PHQ-9 and GAD-7. Researchers examined associations between mental health outcomes, workplace violence and protective factors using multilevel regression and sensitivity analyses.

Symptoms compatible with probable depression were reported by approximately one in three doctors and one in four nurses; probable anxiety affected one in four doctors and one in six nurses. About one in ten respondents in both professions reported suicidal thoughts. Bullying was strongly associated with depression and anxiety, while physical violence showed the strongest association with suicidal thoughts. Purpose and meaning at work were consistently associated with better mental health. Associations were similar across regions with differing levels of active conflict, and estimates were robust across analytic approaches.

The findings support attention to workplace violence prevention and accessible workforce mental health support, but do not establish causality or intervention effectiveness. Self-report screening results are not clinical diagnoses. Recruitment was non-probabilistic, response rates could not be calculated, and researchers could not identify duplicate responses or confirm that all respondents belonged to the target workforce. These limitations constrain interpretation of the estimates as national prevalence figures.