Primary school staff juggle a multitude of different tasks and demands, so it’s really important that they are given the right emotional and practical support.
So, below are ten resources that are particularly useful for teachers, support staff and others working in primary schools, all recommended by the people behind Mentally Healthy Schools. It’s a free website launched by the Duchess of Cambridge in 2018, offering information, advice and practical resources to better understand and promote mental health and wellbeing in schools.
When we have good levels of wellbeing, we feel that life is in balance and that we can deal effectively with daily troubles, as well as bounce back from life’s challenges. Positive staff wellbeing can increase productivity and engagement, improve people’s job satisfaction, and help to reduce absence from work – and it means that staff are better able, in turn, to support their pupils.
There are lots of things that schools can do to promote this. We hope the resources below will give you some ideas.
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.
Supporting Staff Wellbeing in Schools is a short booklet that examines what we mean by staff wellbeing, what can impact on staff wellbeing and how to lead a school that prioritises wellbeing.
Address your stress for Mental Health Awareness Week with this toolkit full of tips, advice and tools to help you reduce the impact of stress on your wellbeing at work.
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.
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.
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.
It’s likely that we’ll all encounter a colleague or staff member experiencing mental ill-health at some point. This guide has advice for senior school staff on how to recognise if a staff member is struggling and how best to support them.
Making simple changes in your life can make a big difference to your mental health. This guide has ten free, practical things you can do to take care of yourself and help get the most from life.
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.
