March 2022
Featured in this insight: Education, Medical & healthcare, Public health & wellbeing
Nine out of ten teachers say their job has "adversely affected" their mental health in the last year: A survey of teachers by teaching union NASUWT, has revealed that nine in ten teaching staff have experienced negative impact on their mental health in the last 12 months due to their job, with 81% saying that they feel government policies do not support schools in responding to mental health and wellbeing of staff in schools.
Two-thirds of teachers polled said their school has no system in place to help manage the stress of teachers or help manage burnout when it occurs.
The NASUWT 'Wellbeing at Work Survey 2021' was carried out in December 2021 and into January 2022 and polled 11,857 teachers. It found that 76% of respondents polled believe that the inspection process of schools does not take into consideration the emotional impact it may have on teachers involved or their mental health and wellbeing.
It also found that more than three-quarters of the teachers polled (78%) reported that at their school there are no workspaces that promote wellbeing.
Effects of stress in the workplace
When asked about the experiences that have had at school due to their mental health being impacted, the majority (82%) said they have had issues with sleeping because of stress in the workplace. Almost three in ten (28%) said they have found they are drinking more alcohol to manage their stress, while one in 10 (10%) said they had seen a relationship breakdown.
NASUWT general secretary, SR Patrick Roach said of the findings:
"Establishing working conditions that support the health and wellbeing pf teachers will deliver a win-win in schools' efforts to ensure the best outcomes for pupils."
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