Teacher Mental Health

As a long-time attendee of teacher conferences, I can say that the topic of teacher mental health was never a topic for a session of professional development.

This has certainly changed in the past decade, especially after the pandemic!

The number and variety of sessions on teacher mental health and well-being as well as teacher burnout has increased tremendously and, quite frankly, are quite well-attended at conferences.

I,  myself, present often these days on this very topic, and as a result, have gathered quite a bit of research on the topic.

  • 21% of teachers report poor mental health (American Federation of Teachers) 
  • 75% of teachers experience stress (Education Support) 
  • 41% of teachers experience anxiety (American Psychological Association) 
  • 44% of teachers report feeling burnt out (National Center for Education Statistics) 
  • 25-74% of teachers experience clinically significant burnout (ResearchGate) 
  • Teachers are more likely to experience burnout than other professions
  • 68% of teachers feel overwhelmed by their job (NEA) 
  • 48% of teachers are dissatisfied with their job (EdWeek Research Center) 
  • 55% of teachers plan to leave the profession earlier than expected due to burnout (Education WalkThrough) 
  • Teacher mental health has been declining in recent years 
  • The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated mental health issues among teachers 
  • Younger teachers are more likely to experience mental health problems 

And it is just getting worse by the day.

The mental health of teachers is declining. The Spirit of Teaching is committed and dedicated to helping teachers with the struggles and the challenges that they face every day in the classroom.

Here is how we are helping.

Check out all the resources on this website.

SPIRIT LESSONS    

Print them out and add to your daily lesson plan book or place on your desk for constant reference and reminders.

RESOURCES 

There are links to many, MANY resources that can be a source of knowledge, comfort, support, inspiration and so on, both personally and professionally.

SPIRIT SPARK NEWSLETTER  

Sign up using the form in the sidebar of the website page to receive a weekly newsletter of resources, support and inspiration.

TEACHER TALES PODCAST  

These podcasts, in particular, address the topic of teacher mental health. Check them out for tips, insights and suggestions for managing teacher mental health.

***Also, please recommend yourself our someone to be a guest on the podcast to share your story as inspiration, guidance and as an example of teaching solidarity. We truly are ALL in this together!

Complete short nomination form here.

 

Some helpful podcasts about teacher mental health and well-being:

Teacher Tales #3 – Comfort, Care and Connections in the Classroom: Lisa, HS English Teacher

Teacher Tales #11 – Teacher burnout, finding joy in teaching and the teacher voice: Lee – Spanish teacher from Georgia and creator of good global citizens!

Teacher Tales #15 – Systems for self-care and setting us all up for success both in and out of the classroom: Lynn – Language teacher, spiritual leader and advocate for the bigger picture lessons of life

Teacher Tales #24 – Mental health needs and solutions in schools, Mindfulness, creating resilient and empowered students: Jennifer – Middle School ELA teacher, mental health advocate, mother of triplets and singer in the Take a Stand Rock Band that promotes anti-bullying

Teacher Tales #25 – Mental “well”-ness, Ayurveda, energy work and other support systems for teachers and students: Maryam, British teacher in International School in Viet Nam, children’s book illustrator and lover of children

Teacher Tales #36 – Counselors, mental health and SEL: Hannah, school counselor and advocate for mental health professional resources and support

 

***Disclaimer:

These resources are for inspiration, reference and general knowledge only.

If you are a teacher or anyone suffering and struggling with your mental health, please reach out to a mental health professional for support.

 

Image credit:

Lets talk about mental health” by The People Speak is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0.

 

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