People are more and more aware of the need to support children, young people and those in education with their mental health. But working in education can have its intense demands and pressures too. Whether in colleges, schools or universities, it’s important to look out for staff and colleagues, and try to make their working environment a healthy and positive one. The chances are, it’ll translate to a better environment for pupils and students too.
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We’ve collected ideas, advice, resources and examples for people across the sector: primary, secondary and further education. (We hope to add higher education too.)
And below you’ll find a sample of the resources that feature in those pages, to give you a flavour.
Education Support provides a free, confidential helpline for all teachers, lecturers and staff in England, Wales and Scotland. It’s available all day, every day, and the site has downloadable posters to share with colleagues.
Good staff wellbeing is essential in education, and means that staff are better able, in turn, to support their pupils. This page from Mentally Healthy Schools has information, advice and links to quality-assured resources that can help.
If you’re having a tough week and lots of worries are building up, it can be difficult to cope. This simple activity from YoungMinds encourages school staff to think about the things that help get them through.
Any conversation about supporting children’s wellbeing must also include how we support teachers. This resource encourages schools to reflect on the wellbeing of staff, based on the findings from a large consultation.
A public pledge can be a good way to demonstrate that mental health and wellbeing is a priority in your organisation. This charter provides a short, clear set of principles that colleges can commit to in promoting good mental health of both staff and students.
For those who work in education, stress can seem a major part of daily life. HSE's Talking Toolkit for schools helps to address this by enabling simple, practical conversations with school employees.
Evidence suggests there are 5 steps we can all take to improve our mental wellbeing. If you give them a try, you may feel happier and more positive.
