Ei-iE

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

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.

Share your knowledge

This hub is intended as a tool for sharing knowledge, experiences, and resources. EI member organisations are invited to contribute by sharing the resources they have developed on the health and well-being of education personnel.

You can submit your resources by filling in the form accessible through the link below:

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 196 Resources

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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 (INTO)
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 (INTO) 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 (INTO) 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

Let’s fight suffering: Psychological distress

The document addresses the impact of psychosocial risks in the workplace on mental health. It explains how factors such as work overload, lack of support, job insecurity, and harassment can lead to psychological distress, including anxiety, depression, and burnout. The guide outlines the physical, mental, and emotional consequences for workers and organizations, and proposes a three-level prevention strategy: eliminating risks at the source, equipping workers to manage stress, and repairing the effects through support programs. It also highlights legal rights and recourses available to workers under Quebec labor laws.

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 Violence and harassment Working conditions Workload
Available in
French
Categories of staff
Teachers Education support personnel School leaders Union representatives

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

Ensuring a needs-based work-life balance for all: How adequate flexible working conditions can support intergenerational solidarity and the empowerment of women

The page presents the European Economic and Social Committee's (EESC) opinion on ensuring a needs-based work-life balance for all. It highlights the importance of adapting work-life balance strategies to address shifting demographics, new forms of work, and rising care demands. The EESC emphasizes the need for affordable, accessible, high-quality services that benefit workers, families, companies, and public authorities. It also stresses the importance of supporting care work and financial security for families and workers, viewing these as investments in society and the economy. The opinion calls for the assessment of work-life balance policies in EU companies and highlights the role of social dialogue in achieving this objective.

The resource can be downloaded in all available languages on the EESC website.

Open resource in English Open resource in French
Publisher
European Economic and Social Committee (EESC)
Year of publication
2024
Region
Europe
Topics
Women’s psychological and physical health Workload
Available in
German Danish Czech Bulgarian Spanish, Castilian English Greek, Modern French Irish Hungarian Finnish Estonian Lithuanian Latvian Dutch Portuguese Romanian, Moldovan Slovak Slovenian Swedish Italian Croatian Maltese Polish
Categories of staff
Teachers Education support personnel School leaders Researchers

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

Workload

"Työkuormitus" explores how workload affects the well-being and performance of professionals in the education sector. It highlights that excessive or insufficient workload can harm motivation, health, and job quality. Factors contributing to strain include work demands, digitalisation, student behavior, poor planning, lack of support, and environmental issues. The guide emphasizes the employer’s responsibility to ensure safe and balanced working conditions and encourages open dialogue within the work community.

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