Over 50% of Teachers have Mental Health Problems, Study Shows

In summary:

• 50 percent of teachers have mental health-related problems.
  
• These teachers’ mental health problems have a considerable effect on student’s academic progress.
  
• Huge ‘workloads’ and underpay coupled with increasing financial obligations are the main cause of the problems.
  

A recent research study has shown that more than 50 percent of teachers have mental health-related problems. And that these teachers’ mental health problems have a considerable effect on student’s academic progress.

The study conducted by Leeds Beckett University and Teachwire.net found that 54 percent of the 775 teachers surveyed, had poor mental health. In that 54 percent, 52 percent confirmed having been diagnosed by a general medical practitioner (GP). The others were self-diagnosed.

Out of the 775 teachers studied, 64 percent were primary school teachers and 22 percent from secondary. The rest represented the Early Years Foundation Stage and higher education teachers.

In relation to learners, 76 percent of the respondents agreed that poor teacher mental health impacts detrimentally on learners’ academic progress.

A larger percentage of the respondents studied, further, either agreed/strongly agreed that their poor mental health have a detrimental impact on:

• Their physical energy in the classroom (94%)
  
• Marking and pupil feedback (69%)
  
• Effectiveness in responding to the needs of learners.
  
• Quality of relationships with learners (81%)
  
• Relationships with colleagues (78%)
  
• Quality of explanations in lessons (73%)
  
• Questioning skills in lessons (72%)
  
• Behavior management skills (81%)
  
• Creativity in teaching (90%)
  

The teachers cited huge workloads and underpay coupled with increasing financial obligations as the main cause of the problems.

Leeds Beckett University’s Prof. Jonathan Glazzard of Carnegie School of Education agreed with the research findings. He challenged the leaders in the education sector and governments to find solutions on ‘workload’.

“The mental health of children has been the main focus, it’s time Governments give fair attention to the teachers’ mental health,” said Prof Glazzard.

Professor Glazzard said that the research shows that teachers’ poor mental health was seriously impacting on learners. He added that if teachers problems are looked into, they will be happy. This, in turn, will enable them to teach well, making learners to achieve the desired good results.

Bibliography

1. Leedsbeckett.ac.uk. (2019). Pupil progress held back by teachers’ poor mental health. [online] Available at: https://www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/news/0118-mental-health-survey/ [Accessed 10 Apr. 2019].
2. Teachwire. (2019). Pupil progress is being held back by teachers’ poor mental health. [online] Available at: https://www.teachwire.net/news/pupil-progress-is-being-held-back-by-teachers-poor-mental-health [Accessed 10 Apr. 2019].