Why is teacher wellbeing important?

The mental health of our teachers and support staff is fundamental to education recovery and the futures of our young people, and yet, sadly, education staff are experiencing alarming levels of anxiety, depression and burnout. (Read more from the Chartered College of Teaching, Education Support and the Teacher Wellbeing Index.)

How can we support teachers in improving their wellbeing?

We've launched a collection of wellbeing resources to support emotional wellbeing and physical health, aiming to support staff to develop and maintain good mental health. The collection includes a Teachers’ wellbeing guide that features advice on wellbeing in the workplace, and tips on introducing simple self-care practices in our personal lives, and a Teachers’ wellbeing journal to support mindfulness. It also includes a time and task management toolkit to promote a healthy work-life balance.

We do not pretend that our wellbeing resources are the solution to teacher mental health issues or the retention crisis. However, if we can give teachers and school staff tools to encourage them to focus on their own wellbeing and help promote job satisfaction we will gladly do so. Teacher wellbeing and positive mental health is paramount to the development of mentally healthy schools. After all, we cannot look after others if we are not feeling well ourselves.