Caring for educators, caring for our communities

Welcome to the Education International hub dedicated to supporting the health and well-being of teachers and education support personnel (ESP) around the world. Developed in partnership with MGEN, this hub reflects our collective commitment to place education workers’ health and well-being at the centre of the global education agenda, as outlined in our 10th World Congress resolution “ Teacher and ESP well-being and mental health: vital for quality education”.

Whether you are looking for good practices, strategies, or inspiration, this hub is designed to empower unions and education communities to foster healthier, more supportive environments for teachers and education support personnel worldwide.

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The article provides practical tips on maintaining health and stamina during walkouts and protests. It emphasizes the importance of getting enough sleep, eating healthy meals and snacks, staying hydrated, protecting one's voice, staying fit, and managing stress.

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Publisher: National Education Association (NEA)
Country: United States of America
Year of publication: 2018

Region: North America and the Caribbean
Topics: Mental health Physical health
Available in: English
Categories of staff: Teachers Education support personnel School leaders Union representatives
Resource type: Web page

This toolkit provides practical guidance for school leaders to have simple and practical conversations with school employees about work-related stress. It includes models for illustration purposes, offering strategies for creating a supportive work environment, conducting risk assessments, and implementing effective stress management practices.

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Publisher: NASUWT - The Teachers' Union Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
Country: United Kingdom
Year of publication: 2018

Region: Europe
Topics: Mental health Physical health Workload
Available in: English
Categories of staff: Teachers
Resource type: Downloadable file

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.

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

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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.

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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.

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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

Le billet de blog met en lumière l'impact significatif de la violence sur la santé mentale, en particulier pour les femmes et les enfants. Il souligne que, bien que les deux sexes subissent des violences, les femmes en sont victimes à des taux plus élevés, ce qui entraîne des défis de santé mentale à long terme. Le billet discute également du rôle des enseignant·e·s dans le soutien aux élèves affectés par la violence et de la nécessité de meilleures ressources en santé mentale dans les écoles.

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Publisher: Canadian Teachers' Federation/Fédération canadienne des enseignantes et des enseignants
Country: Canada
Year of publication: 2016

Region: North America and the Caribbean
Topics: Safety Violence and harassment Women’s psychological and physical health
Available in: English French
Categories of staff: Teachers
Resource type: Web page

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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

Ei-iE

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

Caring for educators, caring for our communities

Featured topics

Showing All 186 Resources

Stand up, speak out, stay healthy

Talking toolkit preventing work-related stress in schools

Report of the survey panorama focus sante - 2018

Teacher wellbeing index - 2018

CTERA occupational health magazine: Healthy and safe work

Health survey - 2017

On mental health through a gender lens

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