The Healthcare Profession as a Determinant of Depression, Suicidal Ideation, and Drug Use in Spain During the COVID-19 Pandemic Crisis

The mental health and substance use of healthcare professionals are vital concerns given their socio-healthcare roles. This study explores whether (a) healthcare profession is associated withthe presence of depression, suicidal ideation, or alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis use, and (b) whether healthcare profession, depression, or suicidal ideation predict substance use. A cross-sectional, observational study was conducted with 630 participants from Psychology, Nursing, Medicine, and Nursing Auxiliary Care Technicians (TCAE). Descriptive analyses and Poisson regression models with robust variance were applied. Results show that TCAE and nurses report higher rates of depression and suicidal ideation, highlighting their vulnerability during health crises. Alcohol is the most consumed substance, with at-risk use prevalent across professions. Tobacco use is highest among psychologists, while cannabis use is low, although 20% of users report problematic use. Severe depression is significantly associated with tobacco use, while its relationships with alcohol and cannabis use are less consistent. Alcohol consumption correlates with sex and healthcare profession, being more common among women, physicians, psychologists, and other healthcare roles. Tobacco use is associated primarily by healthcare profession, while cannabis use is significantly linked to depression, with higher prevalence among professionals without depression. Comprehensive policies addressing these issues are essential.