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 NASUWT's Mental Health and Work-related Stress Toolkit is designed to support educators in managing and mitigating work-related stress, anxiety, and depression. It provides a comprehensive collection of resources, including links to model action plans, risk assessments, and guidance from the Health and Safety Executive, the United Kingdom’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. The toolkit emphasizes the importance of treating mental health issues as workplace hazards, requiring risk assessments and proactive measures. It also offers support for immediate help and management conversations around mental health, aiming to create a healthier work environment for teachers.

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

Region: Europe
Topics: Mental health Safety
Available in: English
Categories of staff: Teachers
Resource type: Web page

The guide on the causes and signs of stress at work provides comprehensive guidance on identifying and managing work-related stress. It outlines six main areas that can lead to stress if not properly managed: demands, control, support, relationships, role, and change. It highlights specific pressures faced by teachers, such as excessive workload, poor pupil behavior, and lack of career progression. Also, it describes the signs of stress in colleagues and emphasizes the importance of conducting stress risk assessments and treating work-related stress as a collective issue.

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

Region: Europe
Topics: Peer relationships Violence and harassment Working conditions Workload
Available in: English
Categories of staff: Teachers
Resource type: Web page

The interview discusses the mental health challenges faced by education personnel, emphasizing the importance of holistic, person-centered care and the role of unions in advocating for better mental health support. The interviewees highlight the need for systemic changes to address workload, stress, and the performativity culture in schools, aiming to improve the overall well-being of teachers and education staff

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Publisher: NASUWT - The Teachers' Union Teachers Health Group MGEN EI
Country: United Kingdom Australia
Year of publication: 2019

Region: Asia Pacific Europe
Topics: Mental health
Available in: English
Categories of staff: Teachers Education support personnel
Resource type: Downloadable file

The interview explores the challenges and recognition of education support personnel, highlighting differences between France and Quebec. Key issues include professional recognition, working conditions, and the role of unions in advocating for these personnel. The interview underscores the importance of acknowledging the diverse roles and contributions of ESP in the educational system.

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Publisher: Education and Solidarity Network (ESN)
Country: France Canada
Year of publication: 2019

Region: North America and the Caribbean Europe
Topics: Physical health Violence and harassment Women’s psychological and physical health
Available in: French
Categories of staff: Education support personnel
Resource type: Downloadable file

The Vocal'iz application, available to download in this website and launched by the MGEN group, aims to help users, especially teachers, preserve and optimize their vocal performance. Given that 23% of teachers have consulted for voice problems, this free mobile app offers advice, exercises, and preventive actions to support vocal health. It includes five daily exercise programs focusing on breathing, relaxation, singing, and more, allowing users to analyze, understand, and care for their voice through regular practice.

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Publisher: MGEN
Year of publication: 2019

Topics: Physical health
Available in: French
Categories of staff: Teachers
Resource type: Web page

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 – 2019 paints a concerning portrait of the emotional toll faced by the UK education workforce. Highlighted are elevated stress levels, particularly among senior leaders, widespread symptoms like insomnia, irritability, and mental health concerns, and alarming patterns of presenteeism. Excessive workload, poor work–life balance, and student behavioral challenges emerge as key contributors. Yet, resilience remains evident among many professionals, while gaps persist in access to and confidence in seeking support.

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Publisher: Education Support
Country: United Kingdom
Year of publication: 2019

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

Resolution on wellbeing for quality education, adopted in 2019 by the 8th EI World Congress. The resolution highlights the critical role of quality education in the wellbeing of children and young people, emphasizing the need for investment in mental health support for students and education personnel.

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Publisher: Education International (EI)
Year of publication: 2019

Topics: Mental health Working conditions Workload
Available in: English French Spanish, Castilian
Categories of staff: Teachers Education support personnel
Specific communities: Ethnic minorities Indigenous Peoples LGBTIQA+ Women
Resource type: Web page

This publication collects a series of articles that examine the critical relationship between teachers' working conditions and their physical and mental health. It highlights the growing stress and pressure faced by educators due to neoliberal education policies, increased workloads, and precarious employment. Through diverse contributions from Latin American educators and researchers, the publication underscores how systemic issues, such as privatization and market-driven reforms, have led to deteriorating health outcomes among teachers.

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Publisher: Red SEPA (Social para la Educación Pública en América)
Country: Argentina Brazil Mexico
Year of publication: 2018

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 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: Congo Chad Cape Verde Canada Burkina Faso Benin Belgium France Guinea Tunisia Switzerland Senegal Romania Mauritius Lebanon
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 (CTERA)
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 (CTF/FCE)
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

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

Caring for educators, caring for our communities

Featured topics

Showing All 194 Resources

Mental health and work-related stress toolkit

Causes and signs of stress at work

Joint interview: NASUWT and Teachers Health on mental health

School support staff: Education includes them too

Vocal'iz: The free app to protect your voice

Teacher wellbeing index - 2019

Teacher and education support personnel’s mental health - Resolution from the 8th World Congress

Working conditions and teacher health

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