Health and well-being hub

The NASUWT guide on risk assessment of violent and abusive behaviour provides comprehensive advice for education employers on their legal duties to protect staff from violence and abuse. It outlines procedures for schools and colleges to tackle disruptive and violent behaviour, emphasizing the importance of conducting thorough risk assessments for pupils who display high levels of aggression. The guide highlights the significant impact of poor pupil behaviour on teachers' health and wellbeing, and stresses the need for effective behaviour policies and risk management strategies to ensure a safe and supportive working environment for educators.

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Publisher: NASUWT - The Teachers' Union
Country: United Kingdom
Year of publication: 2019

Region: Europe
Topics: Safety Violence and harassment
Available in: English
Categories of staff: Teachers
Resource type: Web page

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 (CSQ) 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

"Spørsmål og svar: Vold og trusler om vold": The page from the union Utdanningsforbundet provides information on violence and threats in the workplace. It defines various types of violence, including physical, psychological, and sexual, and outlines the responsibilities of employers to assess risks, provide necessary training, and implement preventive measures.

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Publisher: Union of Education Norway (UEN)
Country: Norway

Region: Europe
Topics: Physical health Safety Violence and harassment
Available in: Norwegian
Categories of staff: Teachers Education support personnel School leaders
Resource type: Web page

The research paper investigates the psychosocial work environment of Australian teachers to understand why many consider leaving the profession. Using data from 744 teachers in government schools, the study applies statistical analyses to identify 14 key variables linked to teachers’ intentions to leave. Findings reveal that factors such as emotional demands, work-family conflict, violence, stress, and depressive symptoms increase the likelihood of departure, while job satisfaction, commitment, and meaningful work reduce it. Career stage also plays a role, with mid- and late-career teachers more likely to consider leaving than early-career ones.

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Publisher: The Australian Educational Researcher
Country: Australia
Year of publication: 2025

Region: Asia Pacific
Topics: Mental health Violence and harassment Working conditions Workload
Available in: English
Categories of staff: Teachers
Resource type: Downloadable file

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.

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Publisher: National Education Union (NEU)
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

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.

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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

The INEE Minimum Standards offer a compilation of guidances that emphasize the importance of creating safe, secure, and nurturing learning environments that support the psychosocial and physical wellbeing of learners, teachers, and education support personnel. It outlines key actions such as promoting positive classroom management, preventing school-related gender-based violence, ensuring safe school infrastructure, and training staff on protection mechanisms and referrals. The standard also highlights the role of community participation and risk reduction strategies in safeguarding education spaces, especially in insecure or crisis-affected areas.

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Publisher: Inter-agency Network for Education in Emergencies (INEE)
Year of publication: 2024

Topics: Cross-cutting resource Mental health Safety Violence and harassment Women’s psychological and physical health
Available in: English
Categories of staff: Teachers Education support personnel School leaders
Resource type: Online ressource

The article discusses the significant issue of workplace suffering, highlighting that 43% of workers report experiencing some form of suffering, with 7% facing severe distress. It emphasizes the urgent need for organizations to address physical and psychosocial risks, and calls for the recognition of work-related mental illnesses as occupational diseases. The UNSA stresses the importance of better information for workers about their rights and the necessity for companies to create healthier and safer working environments.

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Publisher: Union nationale des syndicats autonomes - Education (UNSA Education)
Country: France
Year of publication: 2024

Region: Europe
Topics: Mental health Physical health Safety Violence and harassment
Available in: French
Categories of staff: Teachers
Resource type: Web page

The article discusses strategies for improving social safety in educational institutions. It highlights the importance of understanding team dynamics, seeking external help for team problems, addressing conflicts proactively, and ensuring good leadership. The article also emphasizes the need for clear rules of conduct, effective personnel policies, and a transparent complaints structure to create a safe and pleasant working environment for all staff members.

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Publisher: Algemene Onderwijsbond (AOb)
Country: Netherlands
Year of publication: 2024

Region: Europe
Topics: Mental health Safety Violence and harassment Working conditions
Available in: English Dutch
Categories of staff: Teachers Education support personnel School leaders
Resource type: Web page

This report draws on a survey of over 3,000 UK education professionals to reveal persistently high levels of stress, anxiety, depression, and burnout across the sector, with 77% of staff reporting mental health symptoms linked to their work. It highlights a worrying increase in challenging behavior from pupils (82%) and difficult interactions with parents (70%), both of which significantly impact staff wellbeing, and underscores the negative effects of inadequate support from public services on morale and work-life balance. While there are slight improvements in perceptions of workplace culture, concerns such as insomnia (46%), irritability, and concentration difficulties remain widespread.

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Publisher: Education Support
Country: United Kingdom
Year of publication: 2024

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

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.

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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

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.

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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

This article is part of a compilation of case studies that detail promising practices in teacher well‑being, teacher management, and school leadership. The NRC provides comprehensive support mechanisms for teachers, including capacity building, expressive arts therapy, recreational activities, and a phone hotline for counseling. These efforts aim to equip teachers with the skills to address their own emotional and social needs, thereby improving their ability to support their students effectively. The initiative has shown positive outcomes, with teachers reporting increased resilience, improved stress management, and enhanced professional growth.

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Publisher: Inter-agency Network for Education in Emergencies (INEE) Norwegian Refugee Council
Country: Palestine Jordan
Year of publication: 2022

Region: Arab Countries
Topics: Cross-cutting resource Mental health Physical health Violence and harassment
Available in: English French Spanish, Castilian Portuguese Arabic
Categories of staff: Teachers
Specific communities: Migrants and refugees
Resource type: Downloadable file

The Teacher Wellbeing Index 2022 highlights a worsening mental health crisis in the UK education sector, with high levels of stress, burnout, and emotional exhaustion reported across the workforce, particularly among school leaders. Many education professionals feel unable to take time off when unwell and regularly experience symptoms such as insomnia, low mood, and difficulty concentrating. The report shows that poor work-life balance, excessive workload, and feeling undervalued are major reasons staff are considering leaving the profession. Despite these challenges, it also emphasizes the critical role of supportive leadership, a positive workplace culture, and access to mental health resources in improving staff wellbeing and retention.

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Publisher: Education Support
Country: United Kingdom
Year of publication: 2022

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

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 – 2021 highlights the mounting pressures faced by the UK education workforce during the COVID‑19 pandemic: a majority of staff reported work-related psychological symptoms, with stress levels notably rising compared to previous years, particularly among senior leaders. Many continued working even when unwell, while anxiety, exhaustion, and feelings of burnout became widespread.

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Publisher: Education Support
Country: United Kingdom
Year of publication: 2021

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

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Violence and harassment

Showing 41 Resources Filtered by:

Risk assessment of violent and abusive behaviour

Guide for the prevention and intervention against violence toward education staff

Questions and answers: Violence and threats of violence

Teachers’ working conditions, wellbeing and retention: an exploratory analysis to identify the key factors associated with teachers’ intention to leave

Model stress risk assessment for schools and colleges

Let’s fight suffering: Psychological distress

INEE Minimum Standards - Standard 9: Protection and Wellbeing

Suffering at work: an underestimated issue?

Working on greater social safety

Teacher wellbeing index - 2024

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

Teacher wellbeing index - 2023

‘Supporting the supporters’: Refugee teachers and teachers living in protracted conflicts

Teacher wellbeing index - 2022

Teacher wellbeing index - 2021