Pressure on teachers is affecting mental health and wellbeing

Pressure on teachers is affecting mental health and wellbeing

A new poll suggests that the majority of the UK’s education professionals suffer physical and mental health issues because of their job.

YouGov research, commissioned by the Education Support Partnership, shows that three quarters (75 per cent) of 1,250 school and college staff and leaders surveyed said they had experienced psychological, physical or behavioural symptoms because of work, which is significantly higher than the UK working population overall (62 per cent).

Of this group, workload and work-life balance was cited as the top work-related reasons.

Over half (52 per cent) said they have considered leaving the sector in the past two years due to pressures on their health.

Twenty-nine per cent said they had felt stressed ‘most’ or ‘all of the time’ recently, whilst 18 per cent report these levels of stress outside the sector.

In addition, 3.45 per cent said they felt that they don’t achieve the right balance between their homes and work lives.

Almost one in five (19 per cent) said they had experienced panic attacks, 56 per cent had suffered from insomnia and difficulties sleeping and 41 per cent had experienced difficulty concentrating.

Half (49%) of those who said they had experienced psychological, physical or behavioural problems because of work said that their work performance had consequently suffered.

Julian Stanley, Education Support Partnership’s chief executive said:

“These findings come just a few days after the latest National Audit Office report showed that many more teachers are clearly leaving the profession early compared with five years ago.

“Every day we support education professionals who are suffering the consequences of many factors causing severe pressure: budget cuts; fewer staff, bigger class sizes and localised recruitment and retention difficulties in some areas are adding to workload and increasing stress levels.

“Outside school, many are suffering financially. The housing crisis means growing numbers cannot pay their mortgage or rent, others have problems paying household bills.

“We are now seeing the impact of this perfect storm on many teacher’s mental health and wellbeing. This is a far-reaching crisis which needs comprehensive action”

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