Depressed, stressed: teachers in crisis

Stressed teacher image from the Observer.

Amelia Hill of the The Observer writes in her Sunday (August 31 2008) article that "Increased pay, reduced workloads and long holidays - our schools are excellent places to work, insists the government. So why, amid reports of depression, breakdown and suicide, is teaching now rated one of the most stressful occupations in the country? And with 40 per cent of staff set to leave their jobs within five years, what can be done to ease the strain in Britain's education system?

She also reports that "John Bangs, head of education at the NUT, is anxious about the impact of such pressure. He pointed to the suicide, last July, of headteacher Jed Holmes who was found dead from carbon monoxide poisoning on the eve of an Ofsted inspection. Colleagues at Hampton Hargate Primary school, Peterborough, said the school's exam results had dipped slightly following an intake of extra pupils and that Holmes had been diagnosed with depression linked to work stress."

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In particular, the story points out that "research by the Teacher Support Network in 2007 found that 71 per cent of Scottish teachers felt their job was ruining their health, with stress, exhaustion, mood swings and poor sleep patterns common."

Also, "Teacher Support Network (TSN) and the Association of Teachers and Lecturers found that demands on staff and their time had increased over the past five years. Seven in every 10 teachers and lecturers said their health had suffered because of the job. Among school leaders, three-quarters said their health was affected."

"Two-thirds of callers to the TSN helpline reported work-related problems, including stress, anxiety and depression. This contrasts with the private sector where on average about a third of callers to counselling services have work-related concerns."