At the start of Mental Health Week, new research for NASUWT – Teachers’ Union finds widespread evidence of clinical depression among teachers and principals.
Nearly 12,000 teachers participated in the NASUWT Welfare Study, which was calibrated using the widely respected Warwick-Edinburgh mental well-being scale.
The analysis found that the average teacher well-being score was 38.7, where a score below 41 indicates a risk of probable clinical depression.
91% of teachers who responded to the NASUWT survey reported that their work had negatively affected their mental health last year.
More than half of teachers (52%) said stress was the most important factor harming their mental health, and 34% cited the effects of a pandemic.
The results show that the situation is more pronounced among class teachers, teachers with disabilities and teachers working in areas with higher levels of socio-economic deprivation.
The Union study heard teachers who suffered panic attacks as a result of bullying, teachers diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and 3% of teachers who reported that they had injured themselves.
Dr. Patrick Roach, Secretary General of NASUWT, said:
“These findings are alarming evidence of the mental health crisis in schools and the psychiatric trauma and harm inflicted on teachers and principals.
“Teachers and principals are at a turning point.
“Urgent action is needed to address the root causes of the mental health crisis in our schools and colleges.
“Ministers should read the facts and make a commitment to make improving the morale and health of the profession the number one priority.
“To ensure a world-class education, every child needs our schools and colleges to be world-class jobs as well.
“Teachers, leaders, students deserve better.
“We remind employers and the Office of Health and Health that they have a responsibility to respond to this crisis and take positive action to protect and protect the mental health and well-being of teachers and principals.”
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