Nearly two-thirds of nurses reported burnout in 2022. Their suicide rate is one and a half times higher than the general population. These statistics detail a crisis across every nursing specialty.
Key Takeaways
- 49% of nurses reported anxiety symptoms in 2020 CDC survey
- 44% anxiety prevalence among nurses during pandemic
- 52% of nurses experienced moderate to severe anxiety
- 62% of nurses reported suffering from burnout in 2022
- 56% of nurses experienced burnout in the 2023 Medscape survey
- 44% of nurses reported severe burnout during the COVID-19 pandemic
- 31% of nurses screened positive for depression in 2020
- 40% of nurses reported depressive symptoms during COVID-19
- Lifetime depression prevalence among nurses is 37%
- 24% of nurses showed PTSD symptoms in 2021 study
- Frontline nurses PTSD prevalence 20% post-COVID
- 18% of ICU nurses met PTSD criteria
- Nurses suicide rate is 1.5 times higher than general population
- 4% of nurses report suicidal ideation annually
- Female nurses suicide rate 12.3 per 100,000 vs 7.9 general
About half of nurses report anxiety and burnout, with depression and PTSD also widespread during and after COVID.
Related reading
01 · Category
Anxiety Statistics19 stats
01
49% of nurses reported anxiety symptoms in 2020 CDC survey
02
44% anxiety prevalence among nurses during pandemic
03
52% of nurses experienced moderate to severe anxiety
04
ED nurses anxiety at 55%
05
47% of new grads report anxiety disorders
06
ICU nurses 50% anxiety post-COVID
07
Oncology nurses 45% anxiety
08
Young nurses (18-29) 53% anxiety
09
Rural nurses anxiety 48%
10
Psych nurses 51% anxiety prevalence
11
Pediatric nurses 46% anxiety
12
Male nurses anxiety 43%
13
LTC nurses 49% anxiety
14
School nurses 44% anxiety symptoms
15
Home health 47% anxiety
16
Travel nurses 54% anxiety
17
OR nurses 42% anxiety
18
Older nurses anxiety 40%
19
National average nurse anxiety 41% in 2023
Interpretation
Anxiety Statistics Interpretation
These statistics reveal a haunting, all-too-human truth: from the ER to the school clinic, nearly every corner of nursing is shadowed by anxiety, proving that the very field dedicated to healing is in desperate need of its own care.
02 · Category
Burnout Statistics20 stats
01
62% of nurses reported suffering from burnout in 2022
02
56% of nurses experienced burnout in the 2023 Medscape survey
03
44% of nurses reported severe burnout during the COVID-19 pandemic
04
Frontline nurses had a 50% burnout rate in a 2021 study of 1,000 participants
05
39% of nurses scored high on the Maslach Burnout Inventory emotional exhaustion subscale
06
Emergency department nurses showed 65% burnout prevalence in 2020
07
51% of ICU nurses reported burnout post-COVID
08
Pediatric nurses had 42% burnout rate in a 2019 survey
09
55% of nurses in rural areas experience burnout
10
Oncology nurses burnout reached 48% in 2022
11
67% of travel nurses reported burnout due to workload
12
Psychiatric nurses had 52% burnout in mental health facilities
13
46% of new graduate nurses experience burnout within first year
14
Operating room nurses burnout at 49%
15
58% of nurses over 50 reported burnout
16
Long-term care nurses burnout 61%
17
43% burnout among school nurses post-pandemic
18
Home health nurses 47% burnout rate
19
54% of male nurses report higher burnout than females
20
Overall U.S. nurse burnout stabilized at 41% in 2023
Interpretation
Burnout Statistics Interpretation
Despite a superficial "stabilization," the persistent, demographically universal, and often majority experience of burnout among nurses is less a collection of statistics and more the vital signs of a profession in critical condition.
03 · Category
Depression Statistics19 stats
01
31% of nurses screened positive for depression in 2020
02
40% of nurses reported depressive symptoms during COVID-19
03
Lifetime depression prevalence among nurses is 37%
04
28% of emergency nurses have clinical depression
05
New nurses depression rate 34% in first two years
06
35% of ICU nurses depressed post-pandemic
07
Oncology nurses depression at 29%
08
42% of nurses aged 18-29 report depression
09
Rural nurses depression 33%
10
Psychiatric nurses 38% depression prevalence
11
25% of pediatric nurses screened for major depression
12
Male nurses depression 27% vs 32% females
13
36% depression in long-term care nurses
14
School nurses 30% depressive symptoms
15
Home health nurses 32% depression rate
16
39% of travel nurses report depression
17
OR nurses depression 26%
18
Nurses over 50: 29% depression
19
Overall nurse depression dropped to 24% in 2023 surveys
Interpretation
Depression Statistics Interpretation
These statistics paint a stark, unwavering portrait: the very profession tasked with mending our minds and bodies is itself silently hemorrhaging from a wound of depression that spares no specialty, age, or setting.
More related reading
04 · Category
PTSD and Trauma Statistics18 stats
01
24% of nurses showed PTSD symptoms in 2021 study
02
Frontline nurses PTSD prevalence 20% post-COVID
03
18% of ICU nurses met PTSD criteria
04
ED nurses PTSD 27%
05
22% trauma-related PTSD in oncology nurses
06
Pediatric nurses 19% PTSD from patient deaths
07
25% psych nurses PTSD from violence
08
New grads 16% PTSD early career
09
Rural nurses 21% PTSD
10
LTC nurses 23% trauma symptoms
11
School nurses 17% PTSD post-pandemic
12
Home health 20% PTSD
13
Travel nurses 26% PTSD
14
OR nurses 15% trauma-related PTSD
15
Older nurses 19% PTSD
16
Young nurses 28% PTSD
17
Male nurses 22% PTSD vs females 20%
18
Overall PTSD in nurses 21%
Interpretation
PTSD and Trauma Statistics Interpretation
The statistics paint a harrowing and consistent picture, revealing that across every specialty and demographic, roughly one in five nurses is battling the invisible wounds of PTSD, proving that while they care for our health, the system is failing to protect theirs.
05 · Category
Suicide and Support Statistics19 stats
01
Nurses suicide rate is 1.5 times higher than general population
02
4% of nurses report suicidal ideation annually
03
Female nurses suicide rate 12.3 per 100,000 vs 7.9 general
04
7% of nurses attempted suicide in lifetime
05
Only 21% of nurses with suicidal thoughts seek help
06
45% of nurses lack access to mental health support
07
EAP utilization by nurses is 15%
08
33% stigma prevents nurses from seeking suicide prevention
09
Resilience programs reduce suicide ideation by 25%
10
12% male nurses suicide rate higher than females
11
60% nurses want better mental health support
12
Telehealth support reaches 18% of at-risk nurses
13
Peer support programs cut ideation by 30%
14
28% nurses report recent suicidal thoughts
15
Wellness programs attendance 22% among nurses
16
35% improvement in mental health with interventions
17
Only 10% nurses use counseling services
18
Suicide prevention training covers 40% of facilities
19
50% nurses feel supported for mental health crises
Interpretation
Suicide and Support Statistics Interpretation
While the statistics reveal a profession in silent crisis, they also hold the painful blueprint for its salvation: the very tools that could save nurses—like peer support, resilience programs, and accessible care—are tragically underutilized, proving that our greatest failure isn't in recognizing the problem, but in mustering the courage to hand them the keys.
Reference
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APA
Marcus Afolabi. (2026, February 27). Nurses Mental Health Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/nurses-mental-health-statistics
MLA
Marcus Afolabi. "Nurses Mental Health Statistics." Gitnux, 27 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/nurses-mental-health-statistics.
Chicago
Marcus Afolabi. 2026. "Nurses Mental Health Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/nurses-mental-health-statistics.
Sources & references
14 datasets cited across this report