Health and well-being hub

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.

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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

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.

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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

The AFT guide offersd strategies for individuals dealing with the loss of a loved one to suicide. It addresses the complex emotions that may arise, such as grief, guilt, and anger, and emphasizes the importance of self-care and seeking support from existing networks and professionals. The guide also provides specific advice for talking to children and teens about suicide, ensuring open and honest communication while respecting their individual grieving processes.

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Publisher: American Federation of Teachers (AFT)
Country: United States of America
Year of publication: 2022

Region: North America and the Caribbean
Topics: Mental health
Available in: English
Categories of staff: Teachers Education support personnel School leaders
Resource type: Downloadable file

The member support guide provides information about the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline in the US, which offers 24/7 access to trained crisis counselors via call, text, or chat for individuals experiencing suicidal thoughts, substance use issues, mental health crises, or emotional distress. The guide explains how to determine whether a situation warrants contacting 988, what to expect during the call, and how to support someone in crisis while waiting for help. It also offers advice on post-crisis care and emphasizes the importance of seeking support for oneself after assisting someone through a crisis. It is important to note that this resource is context-specific and is intended as an example to inspire the development of similar tools in other contexts.

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Publisher: American Federation of Teachers (AFT)
Country: United States of America
Year of publication: 2022

Region: North America and the Caribbean
Topics: Mental health Physical health Safety
Available in: English
Categories of staff: Teachers Education support personnel Union representatives
Resource type: Downloadable file

The RAND Corporation's report presents findings from the 2022 State of the American Teacher and Principal surveys, highlighting the significant challenges faced by educators. The report reveals that the well-being of teachers and principals has been severely impacted, particularly due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This deterioration in well-being has led to increased intentions among educators to leave their jobs. The report underscores the necessity for comprehensive strategies to improve working conditions and provide robust support systems for educators, with a particular focus on supporting educators of color. These measures are essential for enhancing retention rates and facilitating the overall recovery and rebuilding of schools. The report calls for systemic changes rather than superficial solutions to address the root causes of educator stress and dissatisfaction.

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Publisher: RAND Corporation
Country: United States of America
Year of publication: 2022

Region: North America and the Caribbean
Topics: Mental health Pandemics and epidemics
Available in: English
Categories of staff: Teachers School leaders
Specific communities: Ethnic minorities
Resource type: Downloadable file

The article highlights the urgent need to address the well-being of teachers and principals, who experience job-related stress at twice the rate of other working adults. The RAND Corporation survey reveals that poor well-being and adverse working conditions are driving many educators to consider leaving their jobs. The article calls for comprehensive, system-wide strategies to improve educator well-being, rather than superficial wellness programs, to retain and support educators effectively.

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Publisher: National Education Association (NEA)
Country: United States of America
Year of publication: 2022

Region: North America and the Caribbean
Topics: Cross-cutting resource Mental health Working conditions
Available in: English
Categories of staff: Teachers Education support personnel School leaders Researchers
Resource type: Web page

The report captures the firsthand experiences of teachers during the 2020-2021 school year. It reveals how various aspects of their professional lives, exacerbated by the pandemic, contributed to a decline in mental health. The report is based on narratives from interviews with 110 teachers, highlighting the significant impact of high job demands, lack of support, and the challenges of adapting to new teaching environments.

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Publisher: Canadian Teachers' Federation/Fédération canadienne des enseignantes et des enseignants (CTF/FCE)
Country: Canada
Year of publication: 2022

Region: North America and the Caribbean
Topics: Mental health Pandemics and epidemics Working conditions Workload
Available in: English
Categories of staff: Teachers
Resource type: Downloadable file

The article offers guidance for aspiring educators on maintaining their mental health, particularly during Mental Health Awareness Month. It highlights the importance of utilizing on-campus health clinics and counseling services, recognizing the signs of mental health issues, and seeking support from various resources. The article also emphasizes the role of self-care and organizational strategies.

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Publisher: National Education Association (NEA)
Country: United States of America
Year of publication: 2021

Region: North America and the Caribbean
Topics: Mental health Physical health
Available in: English
Categories of staff: Teachers
Specific communities: Early-stage career
Resource type: Web page

The article on Academic Matters discusses the persistent mental health challenges faced by faculty in academia, which have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic but existed long before it. It highlights the heavy workloads, high expectations, and systemic issues within academic institutions that contribute to stress, anxiety, and burnout among faculty members. The article emphasizes the need for systemic solutions, including better working conditions, fair compensation, and supportive policies, to address these long-standing issues and improve the mental health and well-being of academic staff.

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Publisher: Academic Matters
Country: United States of America
Year of publication: 2021

Region: North America and the Caribbean
Topics: Mental health Pandemics and epidemics Physical health Workload
Available in: English
Categories of staff: Education support personnel Researchers
Level of education: Higher education and research
Specific communities: Women
Resource type: Web page

This article offers a synthesis of a research report of McMaster University on the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on academic staff. The findings revealed significant mental health challenges, including increased anxiety, depression, and thoughts of death among respondents. The pandemic exacerbated existing issues such as heavy workloads, digital stress, and the need to balance professional and domestic responsibilities. The study highlighted the disproportionate impact on early career researchers, parents, women, 2SLGBTQ+ individuals, those with disabilities, and BIPOC populations. Academic staff associations are advocating for better mental health support and systemic changes to address these challenges.

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Publisher: Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT/ACPPU)
Country: Canada
Year of publication: 2021

Region: North America and the Caribbean
Topics: Mental health Pandemics and epidemics Right to disconnect and technology Workload
Available in: English French
Categories of staff: Teachers School leaders Researchers
Level of education: Higher education and research
Resource type: Web page

The adaptation and innovation in the SACHA project in Haiti have focused on teacher wellbeing. The project has developed training capsules to support the health and wellbeing of education workers. These capsules cover essential topics such as occupational health, mental health, and stress management, providing teachers with valuable resources to improve their working conditions.

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Publisher: CEMEA-Haiti Education and Solidarity Network (ESN) Solidarité Laïque Haïti Wallonie-Bruxelles Internationale (WBI)
Country: Haiti
Year of publication: 2021

Region: North America and the Caribbean
Topics: Mental health Physical health Working conditions
Available in: French
Categories of staff: Teachers Education support personnel
Resource type: Video

The article discusses six small strategies for teachers to take care of themselves. It emphasizes the importance of adjusting daily routines to maintain physical and mental health, creating a personal space for relaxation, prioritizing self-care, learning new skills, engaging in small activities to feel better, and taking care of one's body as a crucial tool for teaching.

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Publisher: Sindicato Nacional de Trabajadores de la Educación (SNTE)
Country: Mexico
Year of publication: 2020

Region: North America and the Caribbean
Topics: Mental health Physical health
Available in: Spanish, Castilian
Categories of staff: Teachers
Resource type: Web page

This NEA's training session offers simple healing skills for self-care and for promoting health and well-being for educational support personnel. It includes opportunities to practice and apply various healing methods. These methods can be used by all educators, families, and others in the community.

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Publisher: National Education Association (NEA)
Country: United States of America
Year of publication: 2020

Region: North America and the Caribbean
Topics: Mental health Pandemics and epidemics Physical health Social emotional skills
Available in: English
Categories of staff: Education support personnel
Resource type: Video

In this NEA's training session, Dr. Chris Cipriano offers social and emotional learning strategies to support education support personnel within the school ecosystem to navigate the challenging emotions experienced during the pandemic.

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Publisher: National Education Association (NEA)
Country: United States of America
Year of publication: 2020

Region: North America and the Caribbean
Topics: Mental health Pandemics and epidemics Social emotional skills
Available in: English
Categories of staff: Education support personnel
Resource type: Video

The CTF/FCE Pandemic Study Phase One Survey was conducted between June 1-18 in 2020, and had over 15,000 teachers participating. From the responses to this Survey, CTF/FCE reported on the mental health of students and teachers, and documented concerning mental health trends, as educators navigated emergency remote teaching in 2020.

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Publisher: Canadian Teachers' Federation/Fédération canadienne des enseignantes et des enseignants (CTF/FCE)
Country: Canada
Year of publication: 2020

Region: North America and the Caribbean
Topics: Mental health Pandemics and epidemics Physical health
Available in: English
Resource type: Downloadable file

Ei-iE

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

Showing 37 Resources Filtered by:

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

Bargaining and advocacy tactics to support educators' mental health

Coping with death by suicide

Suicide and crisis lifeline 988: member support guide

Restoring teacher and principal well-being is an essential step for rebuilding schools

Make educator well-being a priority now

Teacher mental health during COVID-19: Pandemic research report

Aspiring educators: Protect your mental health

Mental health in academia: The challenges faculty face predate the pandemic and require systemic solutions

The psychological toll for academic staff of COVID-19

Adaptation and innovation in the SACHA project in Haiti: creation of training capsules

Six strategies to take care of a teacher

ESP webinar: Wellness skills for self-care and health for educational support professionals

ESP webinar: Harnessing social and emotional learning strategies to support the wellbeing of education support personnel during the COVID-19 crisis

Canadian teachers responding to coronavirus (COVID-19) – Pandemic research study mental health report