Portuguese nurses gain mental health support with new program
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The Portuguese Nurses Order (Ordem dos Enfermeiros) launched OEquilíbrio, a program offering free mental health support to registered nurses across Portugal.
The initiative provides access to up to six psychology or mental health consultations every 12 months, with the possibility of additional psychiatric care through clinical referral. Nurses can choose between in-person appointments or telehealth consultations, available throughout mainland Portugal, the Azores, and Madeira.
The program also includes a 24/7 SOS mental health helpline for immediate support when waiting for an appointment isn’t possible. A new online platform supports appointment booking, clinical chat, and access to resources on mental health and self-care. The Nurses Order emphasized that this program complements, but does not replace, the need to improve working conditions for nurses.
Luís Filipe Barreira, the organization’s president, stated that adequate staffing, reasonable hours, job security, career advancement, and safe work environments are also essential for protecting nurses’ mental wellbeing. The program is designed to protect patient privacy, with the Nurses Order having no access to individual clinical data. A 2024 study revealed that 74.3% of surveyed nurses reported negative assessments of their mental health, and other research identified significant levels of burnout, particularly among those working shifts or in emergency services.
