05.02.20
NHS Health Scotland publishes study on teacher wellbeing
NHS Health Scotland has published an in-depth paper discussing the effectiveness of healthy coping mechanisms in relation to mental health and work related stress in education.
The paper analyses several techniques used to deal with stress in the work place, using specific studies that focus on teachers. Some of the techniques include Mindfulness, mental health first aid training, Chill and Chat intervention and massage therapies.
Health Scotland found that with the exception of Mindfulness, most of the studies lacked an outcome evaluation, due to small groups of participants and a high attrition rate. The studies were also criticised for focusing on an individual’s ability to cope with stress rather than reducing stressors within the work place, such as inadequate staffing levels and reduced workload.
One study in the report, commissioned by The Educational Institute of Scotland, found that up to 60% of the teacher’s surveyed were “frequently stressed” in their job role.
Commenting on the publication of the report, EIS General Secretary Larry Flanagan said:
"This review is a significant publication which makes a useful addition to the evidence on work-related stress and its impact on teachers' mental health.
"This is an issue that must be tackled, or we will see an increasing number of teachers becoming ill, experiencing burnout and being driven from the profession prematurely."
Work related stress, depression and anxiety made up 54% of work days lost in 2018/19, and with teachers in secondary education reporting double the average rate of mild to moderate depression when compared to other occupations, the problem is very real within the education sector.
As well as various health risks stemming from work related stress, such as cardiovascular disease and depression, it also has a knock-on effect on a teacher’s ability to support their pupils and control the classroom, leading to lower academic attainment amongst pupils.