Mental Health Problems and Stress Lead Education Staff to Consider Quitting

According to the organization Education Support, the mental health of British teachers is so bad that a record number are seeking to abandon the profession. A survey of 3,082 education workers found that 59 percent have considered leaving the sector, including 67% percent of senior leaders and 59% of teachers. Sixty-eight percent of respondents cited workload as the main reason for thinking about quitting their jobs. 

The annual survey shows that since 2021, stress levels have increased. In addition, there were more cases of depression and anxiety than those reported in the general population. Part of the problem stems from many staff experiencing mental health symptoms (78%) because of their jobs but still going to work (47%).

But this does not happen only in the UK. According to the company RAND, a survey of 2,360 teachers and 1,540 principals found that educators have worse well-being than the other areas they researched. Nearly three-quarters of teachers and 85 percent of principals said they experience job stress frequently, with only 44 percent of workers in other areas responding the same. 

Many teachers and principals commented that they find joy in their work and are resilient, which is why they have stayed. Despite that, 33% said they were likely to quit their jobs by the end of the school year compared to the prior survey conducted in 2021-2022. 

The Pontificia Universidad Católica del Peru (PUCP) reported that 56% of teachers experienced stress problems in 2022. At the end of that year, they conducted research that monitored the socio-emotional well-being of primary education teachers and reported that the teachers, in particular, have a double workload because they are expected to be in charge of the education of their students, meet their socio-emotional needs, and attend to their parent’s needs. Psychologist Tesania Velázquez, who participated in the study, told the PUCP that “double tasks, professional and domestic, negatively impact the teachers’ socio-emotional well-being.” 

Educators are under a lot of stress

No matter where teaching occurs, teachers experience much stress, which has increased significantly since the pandemic. According to research by Edweek, teachers’ job satisfaction is at an all-time low due to stress that has skyrocketed since the pandemic began. Many educators had to deal with staff shortages, quarantines, interruptions in teaching, the new modality, and many other factors. 

The RAND survey found that the primary sources of work-related stress among teachers were: 

• Supporting their students’ academic learning due to lost instructional time during the pandemic (47%).
• Managing student behavior (29%).
• Taking on extra work due to staff shortages (25%).
• Support students’ mental health and well-being (24%).
• Spending too many hours working (23%).
• Receiving a salary that is too low (22%).

The main reasons for stress among educational administrators were: 

• Holding both teaching and non-teaching positions in their schools (56%).
• Supporting teachers and staff’s mental health and well-being (44%).
• Supporting students’ academic learning due to lost instructional time (34%).
• Supporting students’ mental health and well-being (32%).
• Implementing COVID-19 mitigation strategies (31%).

How to manage stress

Systemic problems cause much of the stress experienced by teachers and education staff. However, the organization Education Support says there are still strategies the individual can apply to manage it: 

1. Make a plan or task list.
   • This is especially useful for those who have more than one responsibility. One can be for things to do as an educator, a leader, another at home, and, finally, one as a family. 
   • This helps to categorize the different things you must do, giving you order, which reduces stress levels. For example, suppose you are in a meeting and remember something related to a family event or a pending purchase. You can write it on the appropriate list, now being able to focus on the meeting because you have recorded the task to do later. 
2. Know your priorities.
   • Being clear about your priorities helps maintain healthy boundaries and prevents you from taking on too much or committing to work that doesn’t align with your preferences. This can make a real difference in your stress and burnout levels. 
3. Establish limits and say “No.”
   • Setting boundaries seems like a somewhat obvious solution, but it is not easy for many to do it. In its publication, Education Support gives the example of Brian Dyson, the CEO of Coca-Cola, saying he “talks about having crystal balls and rubber balls in life. You have to think: What are your crystal balls? And what are your rubber balls? So when juggling all these balls, think about which glass balls you need to focus on because if you drop them, they’ll break, and consider what rubber balls you can drop, because they will just bounce again.”
4. Have solid relationships.
   • It is paramount to have someone to turn to and vent to, whether it’s a friend, co-worker, partner, or family. It would be best to approach a professional, but that is only sometimes within everyone’s possibilities. Tecnologico de Monterrey has the portal TQueremos, where the institution’s staff can find professional support 24 hours a day. Everyone needs someone to listen to them to help them see the big picture.
5. Be aware of what stresses you.
   • Making a list of events or situations that leave you emotionally drained or stressed helps you become more aware and emotionally prepared to deal with them. In addition, you can supplement the list with one or two ways to reduce stress for each, so when faced with such a situation, you can practice your stress reduction techniques and note what works. 
6. Refrain from focusing on past mistakes.
   • Guilt feelings, remorse, and regret drain energy and can lead to more stress. Being kind to yourself is an excellent strategy to attract joy and peace.
7. Don’t repress emotions.
   • Often, feelings such as anger and frustration are considered harmful, but they must be expressed; it could mean addressing difficult situations with colleagues or friends, communicating, and discussing your feelings. These weigh heavily and contribute to more stress or wear and tear if not properly managed. 
8. Take time every day for hobbies or exercise.
   • Meditation, yoga, walking, swimming, and biking, no matter what type of exercise, are suitable for stress relief. Not only physical activity but doing activities such as hobbies helps focus attention on things you like, thus decreasing stress levels.

Work Burnout 

Burnout is another significant occurrence that many teachers and educational staff experience. It occurs due to sustained stress that never subsides because of prolonged periods of intensity and excessive demands on energy, strength, and resources. Responsibility, pressure, workload, low pay, and long hours make educators and education staff easy prey to burnout.

The three most evident signs that someone has burnout: The first involves emotional and physical exhaustion that manifests as irritability, mood swings, concentration problems, chronic fatigue, insomnia, and physical symptoms such as increased illness, palpitations, gastrointestinal pain, headaches, and dizziness. 

The second sign is detachment from work, which can turn into cynicism and pessimism towards teaching, colleagues, students, or institutions. In addition, people may isolate themselves from others and experience a loss of enjoyment of things that previously pleased them.

The third is reduced performance. For educators, this can result in negative feelings, lack of productivity, and poor performance. Evidence of this can be feelings of hopelessness and apathy, low self-confidence, increased irritability with oneself and others, increased time spent completing tasks, and indifference toward them.

What can you do to reduce or avoid burnout?

1. Live in the present.
   • Being aware of your emotions, stress levels, and health is essential. Strategies such as mindfulness, meditation, journaling, and talking to others can be helpful. Awareness and understanding of stress, burnout, and mental health are invaluable to knowing yourself.
2. Take command of your well-being.
   • Teachers and educational staff are only human; they have the same hours as any other profession. Balancing work with your needs, resting, and relaxing help you manage work and life better. However, on many occasions, teachers put students before themselves. However, if they don’t care for themselves, they won’t be able to support others. 
3. Question the impact before taking on new work.
   • Educators want to do the best for their students. They also want to be good at what they do. That means they sometimes take on more than they should. Suppose they are asked to do something beyond the typical responsibilities of their roles or something different. In that case, it is valid to measure it, accounting for their job position and priorities and the impact of the additional work on the attention they can pay to their students and the time it will take. If time vs. impact is limiting, consider alternatives and the need for the task. Is it really required?
4. Accept that sometimes you have to say “no.”
   • As with stress, setting boundaries is crucial. Whether the issue is limited time, a huge to-do list, or a limited impact on your results, it’s okay to say you cannot always do something. 
5. Take mental health days.
   • As mentioned above, According to Education Support, 47% of their respondents went to work even if they felt bad. If you feel like you might be reaching a point of exhaustion, maybe you’re tired, emotional, and easily agitated, take a day or two to recover. Your mental health is just as important as your physical health. It’s crucial to take the time to relax and recover.
6. Get support when you need it.
   • The Tec staff resorts to TQueremos; find out if your institution has similar support. Sometimes it isn’t easy to talk to people close to you, but having a professional who listens, supports, advises, and guides you to discover your best solutions is vital. 

Depression: Detecting Symptoms and What to Do

Depression is a mental illness known as a mood disorder, and according to Education Support, it is more prevalent among education personnel (32%) than the general population (19%). The COVID-19 pandemic has spotlighted people’s physical and mental well-being. More teachers and education staff openly discuss their challenges, and colleagues support them.

Unlike when someone is downcast or has a low mood, depression disrupts daily life and work. Everyone experiences difficult times, resulting in unhappiness or sadness, but they do not disrupt their daily lives. Several signs of depression are: losing interest in what you once enjoyed, feeling inexplicably tearful, not wanting to socialize or face a classroom full of students, or having difficulty getting out of bed. You might feel hopeless, exhausted, and irritable and experience aches and pains in your body and suicidal thoughts. It is important to note that while depression is a common mental illness, no two experiences are the same, and symptoms range from mild to severe.

In addition to seeing a psychiatrist, here are some recommendations by Education Support of what to do if you feel you suffer from depression:

1. I believe I have depression, but I don’t know who to turn to. I’m not sure I want to talk to anyone.
   • It’s okay to feel this way. Part of the nature of depression is to feel isolated or withdrawn, so wanting to talk to someone may be the last thing you desire. It is important to remember that there will always be someone who will want to help you, and treatments are available. 
2. I find it hard to work and am nervous about talking to my leader.
   • It’s valid to feel unsure about mentioning depression at work because of the social stigma surrounding the disease, but at least in Mexico, it is illegal to discriminate against anyone with mental health problems. You could go to a trusted colleague before talking to your leader. Also, your human resources department may inform you of a program that supports its employees with mental health issues. 
3. Know what kinds of treatments are available.
   • Looking for treatment options is a big step that not everyone dares to take; they should be congratulated. Getting help is not a sign of weakness; it shows incredible strength. Not all treatments work the same, so you should practice what works for you and talk to an expert if you have side effects from any medications. It is entirely your decision to take medication, attend group therapy, practice conversational treatment, or practice self-care.

Although education is in crisis due to a large number of educators and educational personnel considering leaving the profession, many solutions and paths can help them lower their stress levels and avoid this drastic action. The most important thing is to seek help.

Translation by Daniel Wetta

Paulette Delgado

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This article from Observatory of the Institute for the Future of Education may be shared under the terms of the license CC BY-NC-SA 4.0