Health and well-being hub

The report provides an overview of the health and well-being of education personnel in 15 French-speaking countries. Based on surveys and interviews conducted in 2018, the report highlights key issues such as access to healthcare, working conditions, and the role of trade unions in promoting health awareness. The findings aim to inform and inspire actions to improve the well-being of education professionals globally.

Download resource in French

Publisher: Syndical Francophone de l’Éducation et de la Formation (CSFEF) Education and Solidarity Network (ESN)
Country: France Congo Chad Cape Verde Canada Burkina Faso Benin Belgium Tunisia Switzerland Senegal Romania Mauritius Lebanon Guinea
Year of publication: 2018

Topics: Physical health Working conditions Workload
Available in: French
Categories of staff: Teachers Education support personnel School leaders
Resource type: Downloadable file

This article is part of a compilation of case studies that detail promising practices in teacher well‑being, teacher management, and school leadership. The Teacher Wellbeing Index – 2018 reveals a widespread mental health crisis in the UK education sector, with high stress and poor work-life balance affecting both teachers and senior leaders. The report highlights concerning levels of presenteeism, emotional strain, and reluctance to seek help, all driven by heavy workloads, lack of support, and rising behavioral challenges. It calls for systemic cultural change to protect and prioritize staff wellbeing.

Download resource in English

Publisher: Education Support
Country: United Kingdom
Year of publication: 2018

Region: Europe
Topics: Cross-cutting resource Leadership Mental health Peer relationships Physical health Respect Violence and harassment Workload
Available in: English
Categories of staff: Teachers Education support personnel School leaders
Level of education: Early childhood education Primary education Secondary education
Resource type: Downloadable file

"Salud Laboral en Tiempos de Ajuste" by CTERA explores the challenges faced by education workers in Argentina, particularly in the context of neoliberal policies. It emphasizes the importance of maintaining and advancing labor rights, ensuring safe and healthy working conditions, and promoting collective bargaining. The publication also discusses the impact of economic policies on workers' health and well-being.

Download resource in Spanish

Publisher: Confederación de Trabajadores de la Educación de la República Argentina
Country: Argentina
Year of publication: 2017

Region: Latin America
Topics: Mental health Physical health Working conditions
Available in: Spanish, Castilian
Categories of staff: Teachers Education support personnel School leaders Union representatives
Resource type: Downloadable file

This article is part of a compilation of case studies that detail promising practices in teacher well‑being, teacher management, and school leadership. The Education Staff Health Survey – 2017, the inaugural report in what would become an annual series, presents a comprehensive picture of the mental health and well‑being of education professionals across the UK. Based on responses from 1,250 staff covering schools, further education, and higher education, it finds that three‑quarters encounter work‑related physical, psychological, or behavioral symptoms, with many reporting persistent stress, disrupted work–life balance, and even presenteeism. The survey reveals that half have considered leaving the sector due to health pressures, while many suffer from insomnia, irritability, and poor performance as a result of their workload.

Download resource in English

Publisher: Education Support
Country: United Kingdom
Year of publication: 2017

Region: Europe
Topics: Cross-cutting resource Leadership Mental health Peer relationships Physical health Respect Violence and harassment Workload
Available in: English
Categories of staff: Teachers Education support personnel School leaders
Level of education: Early childhood education Primary education Secondary education
Resource type: Downloadable file

This is a policy model of health and wellbeing that member organisations can use as a reference to elaborate their own policy instruments on these topics. It outlines the responsibilities of the Board of Governors and school leaders in promoting positive mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing among staff. It also emphasizes the importance of a supportive work environment, regular communication, and consultation with staff and unions. The policy model includes various procedures and policies on topícs such as stress management, attendance and absence management, and health and safety, aiming to create a healthy workplace culture.

Open resource in English

Publisher: NASUWT - The Teachers' Union
Country: United Kingdom
Year of publication: 2016

Region: Europe
Topics: Cross-cutting resource Mental health Violence and harassment
Available in: English
Categories of staff: Teachers Education support personnel
Resource type: Downloadable file

This OECD report brings together insights from nine country studies and an earlier publication, "Sick on the Job?", to examine the intersection of mental health and employment. It highlights the widespread impact of mental ill-health on labour markets, including high rates of sickness absence, unemployment, and disability claims. The report emphasizes the urgent need for stronger, evidence-based policy responses to better support individuals with mental health conditions in the workplace, improve treatment access, and foster inclusive employment practices that promote both mental well-being and economic productivity

Open resource in English Open resource in French

Publisher: Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)
Year of publication: 2015

Topics: Mental health
Available in: English French
Categories of staff: Teachers Education support personnel School leaders Union representatives
Resource type: Downloadable file

The guide was created by CTERA to empower health and safety delegates in the education sector. It outlines twelve minimum conditions necessary for the proper functioning of school buildings, established through collective bargaining. The guide emphasizes the right of workers to actively participate in ensuring safe and healthy work environments, reinforcing the importance of union involvement in monitoring and advocating for labor protections in schools.

Open resource in Spanish

Publisher: Confederación de Trabajadores de la Educación de la República Argentina
Country: Argentina
Year of publication: 2014

Region: Latin America
Topics: Physical health Safety Working conditions
Available in: Spanish, Castilian
Categories of staff: Teachers Education support personnel School leaders Union representatives
Resource type: Online ressource

The document presents findings on how working conditions impact the health of private school teachers in Argentina. It reveals that a significant majority of educators experience fatigue, stress, headaches, and musculoskeletal pain, often without a clear cause beyond their demanding work environment. The report also highlights frequent illnesses such as vocal strain, respiratory issues, gastrointestinal problems, and sleep disturbances, linking them to the physical and emotional demands of teaching.

Open resource in Spanish

Publisher: Sindicato Argentino de Docentes Privados (SADOP)
Country: Argentina
Year of publication: 2012

Region: Latin America
Topics: Physical health Working conditions
Available in: Spanish, Castilian
Categories of staff: Teachers Education support personnel School leaders
Resource type: Downloadable file

The research provides an in-depth analysis of the overall workload experienced by private school teachers in Argentina. It examines the physical, mental, and psychosocial demands placed on educators both during and outside school hours, highlighting how these pressures affect their health and well-being. The report reveals that many teachers face extended workdays, emotional strain, and a lack of resources to manage classroom challenges, with women disproportionately affected due to additional domestic responsibilities.

Open resource in Spanish

Publisher: Sindicato Argentino de Docentes Privados (SADOP)
Country: Argentina
Year of publication: 2012

Region: Latin America
Topics: Mental health Physical health Working conditions Workload
Available in: Spanish, Castilian
Categories of staff: Teachers Education support personnel School leaders
Resource type: Downloadable file

The document analyzes the real working conditions of private school teachers in Argentina. It highlights how educators’ actual work hours, both inside and outside the classroom, far exceed the legally recognized hours, with many tasks like planning, grading, and material preparation going unpaid and unacknowledged. It also examines the impact of commuting time and the concept of “double presence,” especially for women, who disproportionately bear the burden of combining professional duties with domestic responsibilities.

Open resource in Spanish

Publisher: Sindicato Argentino de Docentes Privados (SADOP)
Country: Argentina
Year of publication: 2012

Region: Latin America
Topics: Unpaid work Workload
Available in: Spanish, Castilian
Categories of staff: Teachers Education support personnel School leaders
Resource type: Downloadable file

The resource aimed at addressing violence in educational settings, the guide provides definitions, identifies various forms of violence, and explores their causes and consequences. It offers practical strategies for prevention and intervention, emphasizing the importance of creating a safe and supportive work environment for all educational staff. The guide also outlines the legal rights and obligations related to workplace health and safety, and highlights the role of unions in supporting victims and witnesses of violence.

Download resource in French

Publisher: Centrale des syndicats du Québec Centre de recherche et d’intervention sur la réussite scolaire (CRIRES) Observatoire canadien pour la prévention de la violence à l’école (OCPVE) Groupe de recherche et d’intervention sur l’adaptation psychosociale et scolaire, UQTR (GRIAPS)
Country: Canada
Year of publication: 2012

Region: North America and the Caribbean
Topics: Mental health Physical health Safety Violence and harassment
Available in: French
Categories of staff: Teachers Education support personnel School leaders Union representatives
Resource type: Downloadable file

This page provides a comprehensive hub of resources aimed at promoting safe, supportive, and health-conscious learning environments for both students and educators. It addresses key issues such as mental health, gun violence prevention, infection control, and healthy buildings, offering practical tools and strategies to tackle the root causes of school safety challenges.

Open resource in English

Publisher: National Education Association (NEA)
Country: United States of America

Region: North America and the Caribbean
Topics: Cross-cutting resource Mental health Pandemics and epidemics Safety Working conditions
Available in: English
Categories of staff: Teachers Education support personnel School leaders Union representatives
Resource type: Web page

The STU’s guidance provides its members with essential support and resources for navigating workplace challenges in the education sector. It covers topics such as performance appraisals, school transfers, workplace safety, and legal responsibilities, and includes a grievance procedure flowchart with the affected member which unions can use as an example for their work. It also promotes proactive engagement through educational talks, which can be requested from the union, on legal obligations, disciplinary actions, and social media conduct, aiming to foster safer, fairer, and more informed working environments for teachers in Singapore.

Open resource in English

Publisher: Singapore Teachers' Union
Country: Singapore

Region: Asia Pacific
Topics: Working conditions
Available in: English
Categories of staff: Teachers Education support personnel School leaders Union representatives
Resource type: Online ressource

This is an innovative, modular suite of 29 interactive online learning modules designed to promote a culture of health and safety in the workplace. Covering a wide range of topics from risk assessment to emergency response and workplace ergonomics, the EOSH package is accessible across devices and adaptable to various sectors and audiences. It offers customizable training solutions for employers’ organizations and other entities.

Open resource in English

Publisher: International Labour Organization (ILO)

Topics: Safety Working conditions
Available in: English
Categories of staff: Teachers Education support personnel School leaders Union representatives
Resource type: Online ressource

"Checklista vid arbetsmiljöproblem": The guide from Sveriges Lärare provides a checklist for identifying and addressing workplace environment issues in educational settings. It covers various aspects such as physical conditions, psychosocial factors, and organizational aspects that can affect teachers' health and wellbeing. The checklist aims to help educators and school administrators systematically evaluate and improve their work environment to ensure a safe and supportive atmosphere for both staff and students.

Open resource in Swedish

Publisher: Swedish Teachers' Union
Country: Sweden

Region: Europe
Topics: Safety Working conditions
Available in: Swedish
Categories of staff: Teachers Education support personnel
Resource type: Web page

Ei-iE

Health and well-being hub Education International’s resource center

Showing 106 Resources Filtered by:

Report of the survey panorama focus sante - 2018

Teacher wellbeing index - 2018

CTERA occupational health magazine: Healthy and safe work

Health survey - 2017

Health and wellbeing policy: A model for teacher unions

Fit mind, fit Job: From evidence to practice in mental health and work

Healthy and safe work: The active participation of workers is a right

Teachers’ health and its relationship with working conditions

Overall workload of teaching staff

Time Inside and Outside the Workplace

Guide for the prevention and intervention against violence toward education staff

It’s time to invest in student & educator well-being

Workplace concerns: Support and guidance for teachers

The New Training Package on Essentials in Occupational Safety and Health (EOSH)

Checklist for workplace environment problems