Ei-iE

Health and well-being hub

Physical health

A lack of well-being at work often leads to a decline in physical health, with common symptoms including sleep disturbances, voice disorders, headaches, exhaustion, fatigue, and muscular tension. These physical effects not only reduce energy and productivity but also contribute to emotional strain and burnout, making it harder for educators to engage effectively with students and colleagues.

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Topics: Physical health
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Prevention and intervention guide against violence towards education personnel

The document is a resource aimed at education professionals. It addresses the growing issue of violence in educational settings by defining its various forms, physical, verbal, psychological, sexual, cyberviolence, and incivility, and analyzing their causes and consequences. The guide outlines legal responsibilities, prevention strategies, intervention techniques, and support mechanisms for both staff and students. It emphasizes the importance of collective action, collaboration with families and external partners, and the role of unions in protecting and supporting victims.

Download resource in French
Publisher
Centrale des syndicats du Québec (CSQ)
Country
Canada
Year of publication
2025
Region
North America and the Caribbean
Topics
Physical health Safety Violence and harassment
Available in
French
Categories of staff
Teachers Education support personnel School leaders

Educator fatigue and burnout: When teacher exhaustion goes beyond the classroom

Opinion/commentary

This article explores the nature of teacher burnout, emphasizing that educator fatigue goes far beyond long hours or classroom stress. It highlights the emotional labor involved in teaching, managing relationships, regulating emotions, and coping with administrative overload, as key contributors to chronic exhaustion. Drawing on regional data from Latin America, it reveals how institutional conditions, social pressures, and lack of support exacerbate burnout.

Open resource in English
Publisher
Institute for the Future of Education
Country
Argentina Chile Ecuador Peru
Year of publication
2025
Region
Latin America
Topics
Mental health Physical health Workload
Available in
English
Categories of staff
Teachers
Resource type
Web page

Stress model policy

Toolkits

The NEU's Model Stress Policy aims to proactively manage workplace stress to reduce stress-related conditions among staff, thereby improving educational outcomes for students and ensuring a safer working environment. It serves as a guide for union representatives to negotiate effective employment policies that meet statutory requirements and union standards.

Open resource in English
Publisher
National Education Union (NEU)
Country
United Kingdom
Year of publication
2025
Region
Europe
Topics
Mental health Physical health Workload
Available in
English
Categories of staff
Teachers Education support personnel School leaders
Resource type
Downloadable file

Heatwave: your rights, our interventions

Guides

The guidance page by SNES-FSU addressing the impact of extreme heat on working conditions in French schools can serve as inspiration to other organisations when their schools experience similar extreme weather conditions. It outlines the rights of education staff during heatwaves, including adjustments to working hours, access to drinking water, and the possibility of exercising alert and withdrawal rights in unsafe conditions. The page also highlights SNES-FSU’s advocacy efforts with the Ministry of Education, pushing for flexible exam schedules and better protection for vulnerable staff. It emphasizes the need for long-term investment in school infrastructure to adapt to climate change and ensure safe working environments.

Open resource in French
Publisher
Syndicat national des enseignements de second degré (SNES-FSU)
Country
France
Year of publication
2025
Region
Europe
Topics
Climate change Physical health Working conditions
Available in
French
Categories of staff
Teachers Education support personnel School leaders
Resource type
Online ressource

Women’s health and wellbeing: Guidance and advice on different topics

Guides

The NASUWT's Women's Health and Wellbeing toolkit offers comprehensive advice and guidance for managing health issues that specifically affect women in the workplace. The site offers three separate guides on (i) endometriosis, adenomyosis and fibroids in the workplace; (ii) managing menopause in the workplace; (iii) valuing maternity. The toolkit emphasizes the importance of creating a supportive work environments, valuing maternity, and ensuring that women receive the necessary accommodations and understanding to maintain their health and wellbeing while fulfilling their professional duties.

Open resource in English
Publisher
NASUWT - The Teachers' Union
Country
United Kingdom
Year of publication
2025
Region
Europe
Topics
Physical health Women’s psychological and physical health
Available in
English
Categories of staff
Teachers
Specific communities
Women
Resource type
Web page

Working with school and college leaders on managing staff wellbeing - Guidance for workplace representatives

Guides

The NASUWT page on managing staff wellbeing provides guidance for workplace representatives on collaborating with school and college leaders to enhance the well-being of staff. It verses about the importance of addressing both physical and psychosocial hazards, conducting stress risk assessments, and holding regular meetings with leaders to discuss and implement wellbeing initiatives.

Open resource in English
Publisher
NASUWT - The Teachers' Union
Country
United Kingdom
Year of publication
2025
Region
Europe
Topics
Mental health Physical health Working conditions Workload
Available in
English
Categories of staff
Teachers Education support personnel School leaders
Resource type
Web page

Incident report

The document is a practical guide designed to support workplace health and safety by documenting incidents and accidents. It outlines the legal obligations of employers, first aid responders, and health and safety committees to maintain event registers, even for near misses. The guide emphasizes the importance of confidentiality, provides clear procedures for responding to workplace accidents, and details the rights of workers under Quebec’s occupational health and safety laws. It also includes definitions and examples to help distinguish between types of workplace incidents and injuries.

Download resource in French
Publisher
Centrale des syndicats du Québec (CSQ)
Country
Canada
Year of publication
2024
Region
North America and the Caribbean
Topics
Physical health Safety Working conditions
Available in
French
Categories of staff
Teachers Education support personnel School leaders Union representatives

Acting together – Intimate partner violence is also our concern

The document is a guide aimed at understanding, preventing, and addressing intimate partner violence (IPV) in both personal and professional contexts. It explores the nature, forms, and consequences of IPV, highlights the specific challenges faced by marginalized groups, and emphasizes the role of workplaces, unions, and employers in supporting victims and intervening with perpetrators. The guide provides practical tools, legal frameworks, model policies, and resources to foster safer environments and promote collective responsibility in combating IPV across society.

Download resource in French
Publisher
Centrale des syndicats du Québec (CSQ)
Country
Canada
Year of publication
2024
Region
North America and the Caribbean
Topics
Mental health Physical health Violence and harassment Women’s psychological and physical health
Available in
French
Categories of staff
Teachers Education support personnel School leaders Union representatives

Occupational health care and early support

This "Työterveyshuolto ja varhainen tuki" guide of the Finnish union OAJ explains how occupational health care and early support play a vital role in maintaining and restoring work ability in the education sector. It outlines the responsibilities of employers to ensure equal access to preventive health services, monitor employee well-being, and initiate early support discussions when challenges arise. The process includes workplace assessments, health evaluations, and collaborative negotiations involving employees, supervisors, and occupational health professionals. The goal is to identify issues early, adapt work conditions if needed, and support educators in continuing their professional roles effectively and safely.

Open resource in Finnish Open resource in Swedish
Publisher
Opetusalan Ammattijärjestö (OAJ)
Country
Finland
Year of publication
2024
Region
Europe
Topics
Physical health Safety Working conditions
Available in
Finnish Swedish
Categories of staff
Teachers Education support personnel School leaders

Wellbeing in school: Methodological guide

Guides

The guide is a methodological resource that aims to support educators in creating safe, inclusive, and emotionally supportive school environments. The guide provides practical strategies for promoting student and teacher well-being, including mental health awareness and career guidance. Over 2,000 teachers have participated in training sessions based on this guide, which continues to be implemented both in-person and online across the country.

Download resource in Romanian
Publisher
Universitatea de Stat din Moldova UNICEF Ministerului Educației și Cercetării al Republicii Moldova
Country
Moldova
Year of publication
2024
Region
Europe
Topics
Mental health Physical health Social emotional skills
Available in
Romanian, Moldovan
Categories of staff
Teachers Education support personnel School leaders Union representatives
Resource type
Downloadable file

Using the hierarchy of controls to prevent gun violence in education settings

Guides

The NEA guide introduces a structured, evidence-based framework to help schools address gun violence as a workplace hazard. Adapted from occupational health practices, the hierarchy includes five levels of intervention - elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls, and personal protective equipment - prioritizing the most effective strategies first. The guide emphasizes that any measures taken must not compromise trauma-informed, culturally competent education or rely solely on "hardening" schools.

Open resource in English
Publisher
National Education Association (NEA)
Country
United States of America
Year of publication
2024
Region
North America and the Caribbean
Topics
Physical health Safety
Available in
English
Categories of staff
Teachers Education support personnel School leaders Union representatives
Resource type
Web page

School gun violence prevention and response guide

Guides

This guide is a four-part resource designed to help education personel, school staff, and community leaders address the growing crisis of gun violence in educational settings. It covers strategies for prevention, preparation, response, and recovery, emphasizing trauma-informed practices, mental health support, and policy advocacy. The guide aims to foster safer school environments by equipping stakeholders with actionable checklists, insights into warning signs, and tools for healing after incidents, all while advocating for systemic change to protect students and workers.

Download resource in English
Publisher
National Education Association (NEA) The Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund
Country
United States of America
Year of publication
2024
Region
North America and the Caribbean
Topics
Physical health Safety
Available in
English
Categories of staff
Teachers Education support personnel School leaders Union representatives
Resource type
Downloadable file

Work and suicide

Guides

The guide addresses the urgent issue of suicide prevention in educational workplaces, highlighting the elevated risk among school staff, particularly female primary and nursery teachers. It outlines warning signs, risk factors, and immediate actions to take if someone is in crisis, while advocating for suicide to be recognized as a work-related death under health and safety law. The guide also provides links to resources such as factsheets, legal duties for employers, and practical steps for union reps, aiming to foster a supportive environment and reduce stigma around mental health.

Open resource in English
Publisher
National Education Union (NEU)
Country
United Kingdom
Year of publication
2024
Region
Europe
Topics
Mental health Physical health
Available in
English
Categories of staff
Teachers Education support personnel School leaders
Resource type
Online ressource

Educator wellbeing guide: A quick guide to community support strategies for school staff

Guides

The Educator Wellbeing Guide by the International Rescue Committee (IRC) is a practical resource focused on community support strategies designed to support the mental health and resilience of school staff, especially those working in crisis-affected settings. It emphasizes that educator wellbeing is essential not only for teaching quality but also for personal fulfillment. The guide addresses structural challenges such as workload, student behavior, and accountability, and introduces community-based support strategies alongside self-help tools. It also explores the impacts of vicarious trauma and compassion fatigue, offering ways to recognize and respond to these issues to foster healthier, more supportive school environments.

Download resource in English
Publisher
International Rescue Committee
Year of publication
2024
Topics
Cross-cutting resource Mental health Physical health Workload
Available in
English
Categories of staff
Teachers Education support personnel School leaders
Resource type
Downloadable file

Preventing and addressing violence and harassment in the world of work through occupational safety and health measures

Research

The report explores the global prevalence of workplace violence and harassment, affecting over one in five workers. It emphasizes the urgent need for integrated strategies, such as the ILO Violence and Harassment Convention (No. 190), national legal frameworks, and occupational safety and health protocols, to effectively combat these issues. The report also examines how evolving work conditions, including digitalization and blurred work-life boundaries, intensify these challenges, and highlights the role of collective bargaining and policy innovation in fostering safer, more respectful workplaces

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Publisher
International Labour Organization (ILO)
Year of publication
2024
Topics
Physical health Safety Violence and harassment
Available in
English French
Categories of staff
Teachers Education support personnel School leaders Union representatives
Resource type
Downloadable file