Ei-iE

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

  1. Ensuring safety and health at work in a changing climate
  2. Webinar: The influence of school leadership and governance on teachers’ mental health and wellbeing in Africa
  3. Teacher and education support personnel well-being : Vital for education

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.

Submit your resource

Featured topics

  1. Mental health
  2. Pandemics and epidemics
  3. Physical health
  4. Safety
  5. Violence and harassment
  6. Women’s psychological and physical health
  7. Working conditions
  8. Workload

Showing All 186 Resources

Relevance Year

How do you stay upright?

Guides

The page offers practical advice for teachers on preventing burnout, featuring tips from educators, a supervisor, and a researcher. It highlights the importance of self-awareness, open communication with school management, and mutual support among colleagues. The page also emphasizes the need for school leaders to recognize and address teachers' concerns, provide personal attention, and create a positive work environment. Additionally, it suggests practical exercises and resources to help teachers manage stress and maintain their passion for teaching.

Open resource in English Open resource in Dutch
Publisher
Algemene Onderwijsbond
Country
Netherlands
Year of publication
2023
Region
Europe
Topics
Mental health Social emotional skills
Available in
English Dutch
Categories of staff
Teachers
Resource type
Web page

Poor ventilation in your workplace? You can do this

Guides

The page provides practical steps for addressing poor ventilation in the workplace, emphasizing its importance for health and productivity. It suggests measuring CO2 levels, reporting issues to management, and involving works councils to ensure proper ventilation standards are met. The page also advises on escalating unresolved issues to the Labor Inspectorate and highlights the right to stop work if conditions are unsafe. Additionally, it offers resources and guidelines for improving air quality in educational settings.

Open resource in English Open resource in Dutch
Publisher
Algemene Onderwijsbond
Country
Netherlands
Year of publication
2023
Region
Europe
Topics
Physical health Safety Working conditions
Available in
English Dutch
Categories of staff
Teachers
Resource type
Web page

Stress

Guides

The page provides facts about stress at work, highlighting its potential to adversely affect both mental and physical health. It explains that stress can arise from various sources, including organizational changes, work overload, and relationship difficulties. The page details the physiological and psychological effects of chronic stress, such as heart disease, ulcers, anxiety, and depression. It also emphasizes the importance of employers having clear policies on stress and conducting risk assessments. Practical advice is offered for coping with work pressures, and resources are provided for further support.

Open resource in English
Publisher
Educational Institute of Scotland
Country
United Kingdom
Year of publication
2023
Region
Europe
Topics
Mental health Physical health
Available in
English
Categories of staff
Teachers
Resource type
Web page

Quality of life: A well-lived future in the present

Opinion/commentary

"Qualidade de vida: Um futuro bem vivido no presente" highlights the journey of Ney Conceição Messias Junior, a former public school teacher who transformed his life through meditation and mindfulness. At 61, Ney combines intense physical activities with his work as a gerontology specialist, advocating for successful aging and quality of life. He emphasizes the importance of mental and emotional self-care, sharing his experiences of overcoming health issues through meditation.

Open resource in Portuguese
Publisher
Confederação Nacional dos Trabalhadores em Educação
Country
Brazil
Year of publication
2023
Region
Latin America
Topics
Mental health
Available in
Portuguese
Categories of staff
Teachers
Resource type
Web page

Self-care assessment

Guides

The self‑care assessment tool helps individuals reflect on and measure their self‑care habits across five key areas, physical, psychological/emotional, social, spiritual, and professional. Drawing from established practices by TherapistAid.com, it prompts users to rate how well they engage in everyday self‑care activities (like getting enough sleep, expressing emotions, nurturing relationships, reflecting on values, and maintaining work–life balance) on a simple 1–3 scale. The goal is to highlight patterns and pinpoint areas needing attention, while emphasizing that there's no “right” or “wrong” way to self‑care.

Download resource in English
Publisher
American Federation of Teachers
Country
United States of America
Year of publication
2023
Region
North America and the Caribbean
Topics
Cross-cutting resource Mental health Social emotional skills
Available in
English
Categories of staff
Teachers Education support personnel School leaders
Resource type
Downloadable file

Beyond burnout: A roadmap to improve educator well-being

Guides

The document outlines strategies to address educator burnout and improve their well-being. It highlights the importance of supporting educators through research-based strategies, professional development, and systemic changes. The report emphasizes the link between educator well-being and student outcomes.

Download resource in English
Publisher
American Federation of Teachers Educators Thriving
Country
United States of America
Year of publication
2023
Region
North America and the Caribbean
Topics
Job satisfaction Mental health Workload
Available in
English
Categories of staff
Teachers
Resource type
Downloadable file

Walking faculty back from the cliff

Research

The article, based on findings from a global survey of over 900 public administration faculty, identifies three key lessons and reveals widespread physical and emotional exhaustion among respondents. It underscores the urgent need for higher education institutions to address faculty burnout, which has been intensified by low pay, limited opportunities for advancement, and the lasting effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The article stresses the importance of understanding faculty experiences and implementing solutions, such as improved financial security, supportive career pathways, and policies that foster work-life balance, to enhance faculty well-being and retention.

Open resource in English
Publisher
Inside Higher Ed
Country
United States of America
Year of publication
2023
Region
North America and the Caribbean
Topics
Cross-cutting resource Mental health Pandemics and epidemics Physical health Workload
Available in
English
Categories of staff
Teachers Education support personnel Researchers Union representatives
Level of education
Higher education and research
Resource type
Web page

Put on your own oxygen mask first: Cultivating healing and wellbeing in ourselves - A five-part video series

Course or training materials

A five-part video series on teachers’ social-emotional skills, designed to help educators develop essential abilities that enhance both personal well-being and professional effectiveness. The journey begins with self-discovery, introducing techniques to cultivate self-awareness and self-management through mindfulness practices. These tools are intended to support personal healing, strengthen connection to one’s purpose, and foster greater satisfaction in teaching practice.

Open resource in English Open resource in Spanish Open resource in French
Publisher
National Education Association (NEA)
Country
United States of America
Year of publication
2023
Region
North America and the Caribbean
Topics
Mental health Social emotional skills
Available in
English
Categories of staff
Teachers
Resource type
Video

Teacher workload: Executive summary of the INTO research report

Research

This executive summary of the research report provides an overview of the findings from a study on teacher workload in Ireland. It highlights the increasing demands on teachers and principals, including administrative tasks, curriculum overload, and special education needs. The report emphasizes the need for additional support, such as administrative assistance, reduced class sizes, and dedicated time for planning and collaboration. .

Download resource in English
Publisher
Irish National Teachers' Organisation
Country
Ireland
Year of publication
2023
Region
Europe
Topics
Workload
Available in
English
Categories of staff
Teachers Education support personnel School leaders Union representatives
Resource type
Downloadable file

Menstruation and menopause: Workplace policy reform for a modern labour force - A trade union led initiative

Policy briefs and Policies

This guidance is aimed at employers, government policymakers, and trade unions, particularly union representatives and negotiators. Its objective is to provide evidence and a clear framework for reforming workplace policies so that menstruation and menopause are recognised and supported, stigma is reduced, and workers’ wellbeing and equality are promoted within a modern labour force.

Download resource in English
Publisher
Irish National Teachers' Organisation Fórsa Trade Union Financial Services Union (FSU) Communication Workers’ Union (CWU) Irish Nurses Midwives Organisation (INMO) Services, Industrial, Professional, and Technical Union (SIPTU) UNITE the union Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU)
Country
Ireland
Year of publication
2023
Region
Europe
Topics
Women’s psychological and physical health
Available in
English
Categories of staff
School leaders Union representatives
Resource type
Downloadable file

Menopause in the workplace policy framework for civil service organisations

Guides

The "Menopause in the Workplace Policy Framework" provides comprehensive guidelines for civil service organizations to support employees experiencing menopause. It emphasizes creating an inclusive and supportive work environment, detailing key principles such as health, safety, welfare, and equality. The framework includes guidance on policy development, workplace adjustments, roles and responsibilities

Download resource in English
Publisher
Irish National Teachers' Organisation Department of Public Expenditure NDP Delivery
Country
Ireland
Year of publication
2023
Region
Europe
Topics
Women’s psychological and physical health
Available in
English
Categories of staff
Teachers Education support personnel School leaders Union representatives
Resource type
Downloadable file

Early childhood educators: New data on the challenges they face raises the alarm about an education sector at risk

Opinion/commentary

This opinion article highlights the challenges faced by early childhood education (ECE) personnel, emphasizing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their employment conditions. It discusses the findings of the International Barometer of the Health and Wellbeing of Education Personnel (I-BEST), which reveal issues such as poor working conditions, low salaries, lack of professional recognition, and high levels of stress and job dissatisfaction among ECE workers.

Open resource in English Open resource in Spanish Open resource in French
Publisher
Education International (EI)
Year of publication
2023
Topics
Cross-cutting resource Mental health Physical health Violence and harassment Workload
Available in
English French Spanish, Castilian
Categories of staff
Teachers Education support personnel
Level of education
Early childhood education
Resource type
Web page

Teacher wellbeing index - 2023

Research

The Teacher Wellbeing Index 2023 sheds light on the mounting mental health crisis within the UK education sector. Drawing on responses from over 3,000 education professionals, the report reveals widespread experiences of stress, burnout, and sleep disturbances, particularly among school leaders. Feelings of loneliness are alarmingly high, with education staff reporting twice the level of workplace loneliness compared to the general population. Confidence in the current inspection framework is critically low, with the majority viewing it as detrimental to mental health and lacking in credibility.

Download resource in English
Publisher
Education Support
Country
United Kingdom
Year of publication
2023
Region
Europe
Topics
Cross-cutting resource Leadership Mental health Pandemics and epidemics 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

International barometer of education staff (I-BEST 2023)

Research

An analysis of the working conditions, health, and well-being of education personnel across various countries. Conducted biennially since 2021, the survey includes data from over 26,000 participants, covering aspects such as sociodemographic profiles, working hours, school environment, relationships at work, violence and security, physical environment, work-life balance, health indicators, and the use of digital tools.

Open resource in English Open resource in Spanish Open resource in French
Publisher
Education and Solidarity Network (ESN) Foundation for Public Health
Country
Argentina Belgium Cameroon Canada France Japan Morocco Spain Switzerland United Kingdom
Year of publication
2023
Topics
Cross-cutting resource
Available in
English French Spanish, Castilian
Categories of staff
Teachers Education support personnel School leaders
Level of education
Early childhood education Primary education Secondary education
Specific communities
Early-stage career Women
Resource type
Downloadable file

Bargaining and advocacy tactics to support educators' mental health

Opinion/commentary

The NEA article highlights a growing crisis in education, with 55% of educators considering leaving their jobs earlier than planned, a sharp rise from 37% just months prior. The survey reveals that this trend spans all roles and demographics, with Black and Hispanic/Latino educators disproportionately affected. The pandemic has intensified long-standing staffing shortages, leaving teachers overwhelmed, covering for absent colleagues, and unable to provide adequate support to students. NEA President Becky Pringle calls it a “five-alarm crisis”, urging elected officials to take immediate action to prevent a mass exodus and ensure students receive the attention and mental health support they need.

Open resource in English
Publisher
National Education Association (NEA)
Country
United States of America
Year of publication
2022
Region
North America and the Caribbean
Topics
Mental health Pandemics and epidemics Workload
Available in
English
Categories of staff
Teachers
Specific communities
Ethnic minorities
Resource type
Web page