Health and well-being hub

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

This article is part of a compilation of case studies that detail promising practices in teacher well‑being, teacher management, and school leadership.. This section discusses the challenges faced by refugee teachers in Lebanon as they balance professional expectations with their personal experiences. It highlights the dual role of these teachers who, while educating refugee students, also navigate their own difficult circumstances, including economic hardships, emotional stress, and uncertainty about the future. The study emphasizes the need for support systems that address both their professional and personal needs, suggesting that effective training, psychological support, and fair compensation are crucial for their well-being and effectiveness in their roles.

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Publisher: Inter-agency Network for Education in Emergencies (INEE) Harvard University
Country: Syria Lebanon
Year of publication: 2022

Region: Arab Countries
Topics: Cross-cutting resource Peer relationships Resources and conditions Safety Workload
Available in: English French Spanish, Castilian Portuguese Arabic
Categories of staff: Teachers
Specific communities: Migrants and refugees
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 article describes an intervention aimed at supporting teachers' well-being and professional development through a holistic coaching model. The program, implemented in Colombia and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, focuses on three main areas: building teachers' social-emotional competencies, improving their well-being using mindfulness and acceptance techniques, and enhancing classroom management skills. The intervention includes continuous quality improvement-based coaching, where teachers receive individualized support and feedback

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Publisher: Inter-agency Network for Education in Emergencies (INEE) War Child Holland
Country: Palestine Colombia
Year of publication: 2022

Region: Arab Countries Latin America
Topics: Cross-cutting resource Peer relationships Resources and conditions Safety Workload
Available in: English French Spanish, Castilian Portuguese Arabic
Categories of staff: Teachers
Specific communities: Migrants and refugees
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. This text explores the well-being of teachers in Uganda and South Sudan amidst displacement and fragility. It highlights the challenges faced by teachers, including the impact of displacement on their professional and personal lives. The study emphasizes the importance of teacher well-being for effective teaching and learning, noting that teachers often struggle with stress, lack of resources, and the need for professional development.

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Publisher: Inter-agency Network for Education in Emergencies (INEE) Teachers College Columbia University
Country: South Sudan Uganda
Year of publication: 2022

Region: Africa
Topics: Cross-cutting resource Peer relationships Resources and conditions Safety Self-efficacy Workload
Available in: English French Spanish, Castilian Portuguese Arabic
Categories of staff: Teachers
Specific communities: Migrants and refugees
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 "Social Emotional Development for Teachers" program in El Salvador aims to enhance teacher well-being by addressing the significant social and emotional challenges they face, such as stress from gang violence and community insecurity. The program provides over 3,000 teachers with training in social-emotional learning strategies and mindfulness practices to help them manage their emotions and reduce stress. This initiative is designed to improve teachers' relationships with students, parents, and colleagues, ultimately enhancing their effectiveness in the classroom and contributing to a more positive educational environment.

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Publisher: Inter-agency Network for Education in Emergencies (INEE) FHI360
Country: El Salvador
Year of publication: 2022

Region: Latin America
Topics: Mental health Physical health Resources and conditions Safety Social emotional skills
Available in: English French Spanish, Castilian Portuguese Arabic
Categories of staff: Teachers
Specific communities: Ethnic minorities
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 initiative focuses on enhancing teachers' abilities to create trauma-informed classrooms and build psychological resilience using cognitive behavioral approaches. The program aims to equip teachers with coping skills and resilience-building techniques for their own mental well-being. By understanding their own mental health needs and learning evidence-based psychological strategies, teachers can better manage their emotions and stress.

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Publisher: Inter-agency Network for Education in Emergencies (INEE) Education Development Center
Country: Philippines
Year of publication: 2022

Region: Asia Pacific
Topics: Cross-cutting resource Mental health Physical health Resources and conditions Safety
Available in: English French Spanish, Castilian Portuguese Arabic
Categories of staff: Teachers
Specific communities: Ethnic minorities
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

The study investigates the health status of 519 teachers in Moldova’s pre-university institutions. Using both self-assessment questionnaires and medical records, the research found that while most teachers reported satisfactory health, 35.8% had chronic conditions, primarily affecting the gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, and endocrine systems. The most cited risk factors were high stress levels (53.5%), excessive workloads, and lack of support. The study concludes that teacher health is significantly influenced by workplace conditions.

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Publisher: Moldovan Medical Journal
Country: Moldova
Year of publication: 2021

Region: Europe
Topics: Physical health Working conditions
Available in: English
Categories of staff: Teachers
Resource type: Downloadable file

The report presents a global exploration of teacher wellbeing, combining a systematic review of 102 academic articles (2016–2020) with original fieldwork. It includes case studies based on interviews with 90 teachers and 16 principals from high-performing schools in Cambodia, Kenya, and Qatar, along with 11 policymakers. These case studies helped infer the underlying processes that promote teacher wellbeing by analyzing participants’ reflections on their behaviors and conditions during their most fulfilling teaching experiences. The report identifies key factors that foster wellbeing, such as feeling valued, supportive environments, and emotional regulation, while also highlighting risks like burnout. Despite contextual differences, common themes emerged across countries, emphasizing the importance of supporting teachers’ mental health and professional fulfillment.

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Publisher: World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE) The Wellbeing Project Center for Health Policy & Inequalities Research (CHPIR) at Duke University ACE Africa Kenya Development for Cambodian Children (DCC)
Country: Cambodia Kenya Qatar
Year of publication: 2021

Region: Asia Pacific Arab Countries Africa
Topics: Mental health Working conditions
Available in: English
Categories of staff: Teachers
Resource type: Downloadable file

The document "Genstart: Arbejdsfællesskaber og kollegial trivsel – Pjece om trivsel på arbejdspladsen" from the Danish Union of Teachers (Danmarks Lærerforening - DLF) focuses on rebuilding strong professional communities and promoting collegial wellbeing among teachers in the wake of disruptions like the COVID-19 pandemic. It offers practical strategies for improving workplace relationships, fostering trust, and creating a supportive environment where teachers can thrive both personally and professionally. The guide emphasizes the importance of shared responsibility, open dialogue, and leadership that prioritizes mental health and collaboration in schools.

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Publisher: Danish Union of Teachers (DLF)
Country: Denmark
Year of publication: 2021

Region: Europe
Topics: Leadership Mental health Pandemics and epidemics Peer relationships
Available in: Danish
Resource type: Downloadable file

The survey, which gathered responses from over 16,000 teachers in Scotland, reveals that educators have been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, with many reporting high levels of stress and unsustainable workloads. The survey, conducted over a period of 18 days in November 2021, included 32 questions covering topics such as workload, COVID-19, and health and wellbeing. The findings highlight the ongoing challenges teachers face, including the need to constantly adapt to new safety measures and provide blended learning for students.

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Publisher: Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS)
Country: United Kingdom
Year of publication: 2021

Region: Europe
Topics: Cross-cutting resource Mental health Pandemics and epidemics 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

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

Caring for educators, caring for our communities

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Showing All 194 Resources

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

Refugee teachers in Lebanon: The challenges of managing professional expectations with personal experiences

Coaching-observing-reflecting-engaging (CORE) for teachers: A well-being and support intervention for teachers

In their words: Teacher well-being amidst displacement and fragility in Uganda and South Sudan

“Social emotional development for teachers”: An innovative program to improve teacher well-being in El Salvador

Developing teachers’ abilities to create trauma-informed classrooms and teach psychological resilience-building using cognitive behavioral approaches in Mindanao, Philippines.

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

Teacher wellbeing index - 2022

Assessment of teachers’ health in relation to working conditions

Teacher wellbeing: Findings from a scoping literature review and case studies in Cambodia, Kenya, and Qatar

Restarting professional communities and staff well-being

EIS member survey 2021: Health and wellbeing findings

Aspiring educators: Protect your mental health