Ei-iE

Health and well-being hub

Mental health

Mental health significantly influences educators’ overall well-being and their ability to thrive in the classroom. When teachers and education support personnel experience stress, burnout, anxiety, or depression, it can affect how they perceive their own effectiveness, often leading to reduced confidence and motivation in their work. This emotional strain can make it harder to stay engaged, plan lessons effectively, and respond to students’ needs. At the same time, mental health challenges can interfere with classroom management, making it more difficult to maintain a positive and structured learning environment.

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Topics: Mental health
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Preventing psychosocial risks in education: Joint European guidelines 2025

The 2025 Guidelines offer a framework to help education employers and trade unions prevent and manage psychosocial risks in the education sector. Building on the 2016 version, this revision reflects the evolving challenges post-COVID, including digitalisation, increased classroom complexity, and rising stress levels among staff. The Guidelines emphasize the importance of safe, healthy, and supportive working environments as essential for quality education, and advocate for collaborative action, effective legislation, and tailored risk assessments.

Open resource in English
Publisher
European Trade Union Committee for Education (ETUCE) European Federation for Education Employers (EFEE)
Year of publication
2025
Region
Europe
Topics
Mental health Right to disconnect and technology Safety Working conditions
Available in
English
Categories of staff
Teachers Education support personnel School leaders Union representatives

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
Peru Ecuador Argentina Chile
Year of publication
2025
Region
Latin America
Topics
Mental health Physical health Workload
Available in
English
Categories of staff
Teachers
Resource type
Web page

The Australian teacher work, health and wellbeing report: An analysis of teachers’ psychosocial work environments and wellbeing in government schools

Research

This report presents a national analysis of teachers’ work environments and wellbeing in Australian government schools, based on data from 950 teachers and benchmarked against other professions. Using the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire (COPSOQ III), it explores key psychosocial factors, such as workload, emotional demands, role clarity, support systems, and school culture, that influence teacher stress, burnout, and wellbeing. The findings reveal unique pressures faced by teachers and highlight the need for targeted policy interventions to improve working conditions, support teacher health, and enhance workforce sustainability.

Download resource in English
Publisher
Deakin University Educational Impact (REDI)
Country
Australia
Year of publication
2025
Region
Asia Pacific
Topics
Mental health Working conditions Workload
Available in
English
Categories of staff
Teachers
Resource type
Downloadable file

The content and scope of the right to care and its interrelation with other rights: Inter-American Court of Human Rights advisory opinion.

Policy briefs and Policies

The Advisory Opinion OC-31/25, issued by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, explores the content and scope of the right to care and its interrelation with other human rights. The Court recognizes care as an autonomous human right, rooted in dignity and shared social and familial responsibility. It examines three dimensions, being cared for, caring for others, and self-care, and links them to principles of equality, non-discrimination, and solidarity. The opinion outlines state obligations to ensure care through public policies and legal frameworks, especially for vulnerable populations, and emphasizes its connection to economic, social, cultural, and environmental rights such as work, health, education, and social security.

Open resource in Spanish
Publisher
Inter-American Court of Human Rights
Country
Costa Rica
Year of publication
2025
Region
Latin America
Topics
Mental health Social emotional skills Social protection Women’s psychological and physical health
Available in
Spanish, Castilian
Categories of staff
Teachers Education support personnel School leaders Union representatives
Resource type
Downloadable file

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
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

Model stress risk assessment for schools and colleges

Toolkits

The document serves as a model framework to help educational institutions identify and manage stress-related risks among staff. It emphasizes the importance of consulting union representatives during the assessment process and offers practical guidance to promote well-being and prevent work-related stress. Designed as an example of good practice, the assessment supports schools and colleges in creating healthier working environments through proactive risk management.

Open resource in English
Publisher
National Education Union
Country
United Kingdom
Year of publication
2025
Region
Europe
Topics
Mental health Violence and harassment Working conditions Workload
Available in
English
Categories of staff
Teachers Education support personnel School leaders
Resource type
Downloadable file

Continental strategy on mental health and psychosocial support for teachers in Africa

Guides

The Continental Strategy on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support for Teachers in Africa is a landmark initiative aimed at addressing the mental health challenges faced by educators across the continent. Recognizing that teachers are central to Africa’s development, the strategy provides a harmonized, context-specific framework to promote, protect, and restore their mental health and psychosocial wellbeing. It is structured around four strategic pillars: enabling environments, teacher training and community sensitization, school-based interventions, and specialized care and reintegration. By placing teacher wellbeing at the heart of resilient education systems, the strategy seeks to empower educators to thrive despite adversity, and to ensure they are supported through policy, training, and care.

Download resource in English
Publisher
UNESCO IICBA
Year of publication
2025
Region
Africa
Topics
Job satisfaction Mental health Workload
Available in
English
Categories of staff
Teachers
Resource type
Downloadable file

Interview with Ivy Lynn Bourgeault on mental health

Opinion/commentary

In an interview with CAUT, Ivy Lynn Bourgeault discusses her national study on mental health across various professions, focusing on academia. The study highlights the high levels of anxiety and depression among academics due to heavy workloads, digital stress, and continuous peer evaluation. Bourgeault emphasizes the need for better mental health accommodations and support, particularly for contract academic staff who face job insecurity. She also addresses the gender gap in mental health research and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on academic staff's well-being.

Open resource in English Open resource in French
Publisher
Canadian Association of University Teachers
Country
Canada
Year of publication
2025
Region
North America and the Caribbean
Topics
Mental health Pandemics and epidemics Right to disconnect and technology Women’s psychological and physical health Workload
Available in
English French
Categories of staff
Teachers Researchers
Level of education
Higher education and research
Resource type
Web page

State of education 2025: Teacher stress and wellbeing

Research

The article discusses some of the results of the State of Education 2025 survey where over 14,000 teachers in public schools participated. It highlights the pervasive issue of stress and poor work-life balance among educators. The findings reveal that nearly two-thirds of teachers experience stress more than 60% of the time, with female teachers and those in primary schools being particularly affected. The survey underscores the need for increased funding, improved pay, and flexible working conditions to address the ongoing recruitment and retention crisis and to make teaching more compatible with personal life.

Open resource in English
Publisher
National Education Union
Country
United Kingdom
Year of publication
2025
Region
Europe
Topics
Mental health Salaries and remuneration Working conditions Workload
Available in
English
Categories of staff
Teachers Education support personnel
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

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

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
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

The mental health crisis among faculty and college staff

Opinion/commentary

The article highlights the growing mental health crisis among faculty and college staff, emphasizing that they experience high rates of anxiety, depression, and stress, similar to students. It underscores the importance of on-campus mental health support, reasonable workloads, respectful work environments, and fair pay. The article also points out that the mental health challenges faced by faculty and staff are often overlooked, despite their significant impact on overall well-being and job performance.

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
Mental health
Available in
English
Categories of staff
Teachers Education support personnel Researchers Union representatives
Level of education
Higher education and research
Resource type
Web page

State of education 2024: Workload and wellbeing

Research

The article discusses some of the results of the State of Education 2024 survey where over 8,000 National Education Union members participated. The survey asked teachers and support staff about their personal experience of workload and the forces affecting their wellbeing. The survey reveals that the majority of teachers and support staff in England and Wales are struggling with unmanageable workloads, leading to significant stress and poor work-life balance. Key factors related to stress include government-driven factors such as inspections, insufficient staffing levels, and lack of resources.

Open resource in English
Publisher
National Education Union
Country
United Kingdom
Year of publication
2024
Region
Europe
Topics
Mental health Salaries and remuneration Working conditions Workload
Available in
English
Categories of staff
Teachers Education support personnel
Resource type
Web page

The mental health of leaders in Australian government schools: Stress and burnout over a decade (2011–2020)

Research

This research paper analyzes data from 16,460 survey responses collected through the a survey. It explores the prevalence of stress and burnout among school leaders, revealing that nearly one-third frequently experienced burnout and one in eight frequently experienced stress. The study finds that female leaders are more prone to burnout, while male leaders report higher stress levels. Additionally, primary school leaders and those in early career stages are more likely to suffer from these issues than their secondary and more experienced counterparts.

Open resource in English
Publisher
Educational Management Administration & Leadership
Country
Australia
Year of publication
2023
Region
Asia Pacific
Topics
Mental health Workload
Available in
English
Categories of staff
School leaders
Resource type
Downloadable file