In today's time, the responsibility of teachers is not only to teach children, but to develop them emotionally, mentally and healthy.Every person in society has completely forgotten to promote teachers. We do not even understand their mental and emotional well being.
Given their extended duties, growing numbers of teachers are struggling to cope up with the changing demands of their occupation. According to a recent survey of over 30,000 teachers, conducted by the American Federation of Teachers, more than 75 percent of the teachers say that they do not have enough staff to get the work done, and 78 percent of the teachers say they are often physically and emotionally exhausted at the end of the day.
The reason most often mention for leaving their teaching feeling overworked and exhausted. It was because of the adoption of new initiatives without proper training or professional development. For example- In time of corona, all the teachers have to work from home whether they know about technology or not. Not only teaching, but they have to do all kinds of their work online. That’s why their work load increases and they became exhausted. For completing their work on time for next class or lecture, they have to work overtime.Sometimes they have to work overnight.
With regard to the workforce, not only did teacher education enrollment fall by 240,000 (a 35 percent decrease) between 2009 and 2014 but roughly eight percent of teachers, including many who are well below the average retirement age, leave the workforce each year because of heavy workload and exhaustion.
One way to keep our nation’s best teachers in the classroom is to ensure they have the personal support and development they need to stay healthy and happy in both their personal and professional lives.
How To Support The Mental Health Of Teachers
According to a recent survey on mental health, nearly one-third (31 percent) of adults surveyed cited social stigmas as a barrier to receiving mental health care. This is a relevant and discouraging statistic for the education industry, as many teachers may also share the sentiment that seeking counseling signals weakness or an inability to handle their workload.
The reality is the majority of high-performing teachers struggle with the demands of their jobs; in fact, this struggle causes more than 50 percent of them to burn out in less than five years. This stands as further evidence that our industry professionals have a bestow interest in encouraging teachers to seek the help they need so they can be more happier and more effective in their roles.
To provide our nation’s teachers with the support they need, mental health resources like specialized counselling, continuing education programs, and community efforts geared toward wellness should be prioritized.
By making mental health care more easily accessible to teachers, we can help them move forward as professionals and individuals while making steps to eliminate the disgrace often associated with seeking mental health treatment.
Some Mental Health Tips For Teachers are
1. Making mental health a priority
First and foremost, mental health and wellness practices must be incorporated into training programs early on in teacher’s education. It’s up to higher education and state certification boards to take the lead in establishing these programs, to ensure that mental health becomes a priority in our schools and that all teachers are provided the resources they need to succeed and stay healthy.
2. Seek out for developed resources, programs, and policies
Government have a role to play in establishing mental health and wellness cultures in schools across the country. As a second step, school systems need to invest in the mental, physical, and social health of their teachers. By recognizing and rewarding teachers for all that they do (even the ‘little’ things), encouraging the use of small groups and counselling, and prioritizing mental well-being, administrators can have a positive impact on the lives of their teachers.
3. Avoid toxicity
Avoidance of things–people, departments, committees, events, etc.–that are ‘toxic’ while developing strategies to deal with other not-toxic-but-still-challenging teaching situations. Maintain distance from every toxic things makes our mind peaceful.
4. Emphasize your purpose
Remind yourself of your purpose as a teacher–why you became a teacher. If you’re unable to realize that vision, see if you can reconcile that vision with your immediate circumstance. If not, that gives you a hint of what maybe should come next.
5. Take care of health too
Take care of yourself physically: exercise, meditate, do yoga, get enough sleep, etc. Whatever it takes for your body to feel good. If we feel healthy our mind gets automatically healthy and happy.
6. Have a life outside of teaching
Having a life outside of teaching–one full of creativity and hope and people and possibility is amazing. No matter how nobile teaching is, it’s not worth your well-being. That’s why we have to enjoy every moment in our life.
7. Don’t feel stuck
If possible, never get ‘stuck’ where you feel like you ‘have to’ teach or ‘can’t quit.’ There’s always a way forward. Anytime anyone feels ‘stuck,’ it can convince you your situation is worse than it really is.
By providing the emotional support our teachers so desperately need and deserve, we can help them grow professionally and live happier lives all while combating the teacher shortage in America that is putting a strain on the entire education system.
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