Freelance

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Jamie Hailstone is a freelance journalist and author, who has also contributed to numerous national business titles including Utility Week, the Municipal Journal, Environment Journal and consumer titles such as Classic Rock.
October 23, 2018

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Third of teachers experience mental health problems

A YouGov survey for the charity Education Support Partnership (ESP) reveals 31% of all teachers have experienced mental health issues in the past 12 months, while a similar figure (36%) said they have no form at mental health support at work.

teacherIt also found nearly two thirds (65%) of teachers do not feel comfortable talking about mental health problems or unmanageable stress to their boss and 74% said they do not have enough guidance about mental health at work.

Of those who reported they had experienced a mental health issue, 30% attributed this to work, 54% to both work and home issues and 13% to their personal life.

The survey for the charity’s annual Teacher Wellbeing Index also found two thirds (67%) of teachers feel stressed at work and almost a third (29%) work more than 51 hours a week.

And more than half (57%) have considered quitting over the past two years because of health problems.

According to a Freedom of Information request by the Liberal Democrats, 3,750 teachers took long-term sick leave in 2017 due to work-related anxiety and mental illness, which equates to one in every 83 teachers.

And in the last 12 months there has been a 35% increase in teachers calling ESP’s emotional support helpline.

From April 2017 to March 2018 a total of 8,668 cases were managed through the helpline.

“Of particular concern for me this year is the sharp rise in poor mental health amongst senior leaders,” said ESP Chief Executive, Julian Stanley.

“We must do more to protect this group and support them to manage their own wellbeing as well as equipping them with the resources to create a positive mental health culture for their staff.

“Teaching is one of the most important jobs there is, a chance to shape the future of the next generation. But by turning the role into an unmanageable task or failing to make wellbeing a priority in schools we risk alienating those with the passion and skill to succeed,” added Mr Stanley.

The Teacher Wellbeing Index 2018 is available to read online.

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