Mental health training for teachers

As part of the 2014 Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey by the NHS, they found that up to 17% (one in six) of adults aged between 16 and 74 in the UK met the criteria for a common mental disorder.

Within the education industry, the figure rises even further. A 2018 Teacher Wellbeing Index found that more than two thirds (67%) of educational professionals described themselves as being ‘stressed at work’.

A majority of all of those surveyed also admitted to suffering either a physical or mental health issue as a result of their job with 43% of them attributing it to student behavioural issues.

This research highlights the need for employers to invest in mental health training for teachers. For urgent queries relating to the mental health of your staff, you can contact us on 0844 892 2493.

Alternatively, this piece highlights the importance of mental health training for teachers.

In it, we’ll explore the advantages of training your staff to identify the symptoms of ill mental health and offer suggestions for raising awareness around mental health.

The importance of providing mental health training to teachers

The first thing to remember is that for teachers to be in the position to help their students, they’ll need to be in the right frame of mind. When they aren’t, as well as leading to detrimental effects on the teachers, it can also directly affect their students.

The 2018 Teacher Wellbeing Index also found that over the last two years, up to 57% of all educational professionals have considered leaving the sector as a result of various health pressures.

And with 72% of the initial 57% of teachers citing unrealistic workloads as the main reason for considering leaving, it’s never been more important to invest in mental health training.

The survey also found that 65% of the educational professionals admitted that they wouldn’t feel confident in disclosing their mental health problems to their employer. This is partly due to the stigma attached to mental ill-health.

Among the many benefits of investing in the mental wellbeing of teachers include:

• Increases in retention rates
• Reduced costs of recruitment
• Lower absenteeism and presenteeism rates
• Improved engagement
• Improved reputation

Is mental health included in teacher training?

Currently, there are no provisions in place offering mental health training during teacher training courses.  

Although various governments are now taking steps to address concerns around wellbeing in the educational sector. For example, the government are aware of the need for mental health training for teachers in the UK.

In 2017 they pledged that by 2020 all secondary schools in the country will offer mental health first aid training. To address issues related to ‘hidden injustice’ of poor mental health across the country.

Mental health awareness training for teachers

It’s now considered a good business practice to train your staff to recognise the symptoms of ill mental health. And this is even more important in the education sector.

By investing in mental health training courses for teachers, you’re inevitable protecting the wellbeing of their co-workers as well as the students in the school.

For example, as well as recognising the early symptoms of ill mental health, a Mental Health First Aid Training for Teachers will also offer educators practical advice on how to deal with issues such as depression and anxiety amongst others.

This training increases awareness and tackles the stigma associated will ill mental health. They’ll also learn to help people stop self-harming or hurting others and guide individuals towards proper professional help.

Depending on the MHFA programme, participants may also receive complimentary resources including a mental health first aid manual containing a wealth of information, a workbook, and a ‘Z card’ that they can use to identify mental health first aiders in the workplace.

Expert support

Contact the Health Assured team today for additional information or professional advice on any of the topics mentioned in this post including our mental health first aid training courses. Call us free on 0844 892 2493.