The Significance of Mental Health for Teachers and Ways Schools Can Promote It

Teachers give so much thought to other people's lives, including the school management, fellow teachers, students, and their parents, and perform a hectic schedule throughout the day. As a result, they tend to ignore their anxiety and stress levels for unconditional love for teaching and educating children. But these responsibilities come with pressure and stress, which impacts their mental health.

Hence, school staff need to focus on the mental health of their teachers to promote their overall well-being. Providing teachers support to manage their mental health is a great way to thank and appreciate their hard work.

If you care about the mental health of your teachers and wish to support it, here, check out why you must do it and how you can do it.

Why is the Mental Health of Teachers As Important as that of Students?

A teacher is the first defense for students. Experts believe that stress passes from teachers to students. Additionally, the mental health of teachers is important because of the following reasons:

1. Teachers Directly Impact the Emotional and Learning State of Students

Students rely on their teachers and always consider them as their role models. Teachers play a crucial role in their lives. A teacher with good mental health exudes positivity that directly influences the learning environment. A stressed teacher negatively influences the student's learning environment and results in poor student outcomes.

2. Severe Implications on the Mental Health Condition of Students

According to many studies, children experience mental health issues as they reach the age of 14. Schools and teachers play an active role in expanding their capacities and creating positive learning environments to support students' mental health.

It does not imply that the teachers have to work like a therapist. Rather, teachers must cultivate their knowledge and skills to identify risk factors and symptoms of anxiety or depression in students. If a student is identified with such aspects, the school must arrange counseling rather than expecting the teacher to do it instead.

3. Negatively Influences the Teaching Practices

In the digital age, students rely heavily on the internet to search and seek information. But teachers are responsible for delivering a positive learning environment to students for processing information.

Only a blissful and mentally relaxed teacher can provide the much-needed positive energy to the students and offer them a true meaning that further increases learning and effectiveness.

4. Effect on Professional and Personal Life

Teachers often experience an excessive workload of practicing interactive techniques, learning how to operate numerous e-learning platforms, grading examinations, conducting classes, planning lessons, and more.

It leads to irrelevant anger displacement, stress, periodic anxiety sessions, and diverted attention. Such challenges affect their aspects also, eventually impacting their mental health.

The sound mental well-being of teachers ensures they give their best to the school and enjoy a happy personal life.

Now you know why the mental health of your teachers is so important, here are a few ways you can support your school staff and teachers to maintain good mental health.

How Can Schools Support Their Teachers in Maintaining a Good Mental Health?

Appreciation and approvals are great ways to help teachers maintain good mental health, but they must be genuine. Here are some ways to do so.

1. Acknowledge their Positive Behavior

Look for opportunities to show your appreciation and approval for the specific efforts of every teacher or staff. Do this often and regularly. Pay close attention to their acts and connect with them.

You may acknowledge them for working long hours, helping colleagues, and taking on additional responsibilities. Acknowledge their progress and skills by developing relationships with parents, colleagues, and students. 

A few simple ways to show appreciation are verbal comments and a smile, sharing a praise note in the teacher's mailbox, or offering them flowers or an extra cup of coffee.

2. Encourage them Instead of Judging

When a teacher makes a mistake or underperforms in some ways, you must get them to make changes. The best way to do so is to show an attitude of improvement and encouragement to learn.

Don't come with a judgment immediately. Avoid making accusations for what they did wrong. Let them know the best practice they can follow. Allow your teachers to learn.

3. Validate New Ideas and Feelings

Sometimes you can't introduce a new idea or remove a difficult student from the class. Give your teachers the freedom to implement innovative ideas in their classes. Never be dismissive of the ideas, concerns, or feelings they bring to you. Let them know you share their motivation, appreciate their feedback, and sympathize with their issues.

Also, build stronger relationships with your staff through validation. When they are heard, it reduces their disappointment and encourages their confidence. 

4. Give them Time

Teaching now involves the use of technology, and expectations from teachers have increased to a great extent. Teachers must create slide presentations for lessons, and for continuous learning, they have to spend much time doing the job. 

Hence, surprise your teachers by offering early dismissal time a few times during the year, supporting them in maintaining a work-life balance, and scheduling learning sessions.

If possible, create an exclusive budget for their growth and development. It will help save their personal time and would ensure they are able to use the best teaching aids for their students.

Summing Up

Mental health issues and stress are common in teachers. Their stretched working hours and increasing expectations from them often result in a negative and unhealthy learning environment for the students. It can hamper their personal life as well. 

To make sure your students grow in a positive and happy environment, it is vital to invest in the growth and learning of your teachers. Schools must offer professional support and promote the mental wellness of teachers, and if you are looking for school mental health professional licensure in Virginia, contact CIEES today. We offer complete support to help foster your school community. Schedule a meeting today!