contribute to John MillerDoctor of Science & Sharon HastingsEd.D, an addition by Teachware staff
How about some mental health tips for teachers?
Today, the role of teachers is expanding to include more obligations and responsibilities than ever, including the construction of emotionally strong and healthy students.
However, society often neglects or even discuss the mental and emotional well -being of the teachers themselves. This neglect has led to two basic questions-the burning of teachers and the lack of qualified teachers available as a result.
See also 5 mistakes I made as a new teacher
Given their extended duties, the increasing number of teachers are struggling to deal with the changing demands of their profession. According to a recent study of over 30,000 teachers conducted by the American Teachers Federation, more than 75 percent say they do not have enough staff to do the job, and 78 percent say they are often physically and emotionally exhausted at the end of the day.
The reason, which most often quotes the leave of three-quarters of teachers who feel overworked and exhausted, was the adoption of new initiatives without proper training or professional development.
With regard to the workforce, not only the enrollment of teachers has not fallen by 240,000 (35 percent reduction) between 2009 and 2014, but approximately eight percent of teachers, including many, who are well below the average retirement age, leave the workforce every year.
One way to limit this eviction and keep the best teachers of our classroom in the classroom is to ensure that they have the personal support and development they need to stay healthy and happy both in their personal and professional lives.
How to support the mental health of teachers
According to a recent study by the University of Phoenix on Mental Health, almost one -third (31 percent) of those surveyed in the United States, have cited social stigms as a barrier to obtain mental health. This is a suitable and discouraging statistics for the educational industry, as many teachers can also share the mood that seeking consultation signals a weakness or inability to cope with their workload.
Reality is the majority of highly effective teachers who are struggling with the demands of their work; In fact, this fight causes more than 50 percent of them to burn in less than five years. This is an additional proof that our professionals in the industry have a great interest in encouraging teachers to seek the necessary help so that they can be more happy and more effective in their roles.
In order to provide the teachers of our nation, the support they need must be prioritized for mental health resources as specialized consultations, continuing educational programs and community efforts aimed at wellness.
By making it easier for mental health to teachers, we can help them move forward as professionals and persons, while achieving steps to eliminate the stigma often related to the search for treatment for mental health.
Several other mental health tips for teachers?
15 Mental Health Tips for Teachers
1. Make it a priority of mental health
First of all, the best mental health and wellness practices should be included in training programs at the beginning of teacher education. Higher education and state certification councils must take on a leading role in the creation of these programs, to ensure that mental health becomes a priority in our schools and all teachers are provided with the necessary resources for success and to remain healthy.
There is a reason Good teachers leftS
2. Seek or develop resources, programs and policies
District leaders also play a role to establish cultures for mental health and wellness in schools across the country. As a second step, school systems must invest in the mental, physical and social health of their most valuable asset teachers – theirs. By recognizing and rewarding teachers for everything they do (even “small” things), promoting the use of small groups and consultations and prioritization of mental well -being, administrators can have a dramatic, positive impact on the lives of their teachers.
3. The Mental Health Frame in your own mind in a healthy way
Don’t call it “mental health” if a phrase like “well -being” makes more sense.
4. Grow a healthy pln
Strong Vocational network– Not inside and outside the school building.
5. Be in the right place
Putting a job that feels comfortable – IE, the “right”, suitable for the teacher in terms of position, class level, school policies, etc. Not every job is suitable for everyone. Good -haired people may advise you that “children need you,” but you have to take care of yourself or your teaching is just not sustainable.
6. Set boundaries
As far as possible, clear boundaries between school and home life.
7. Avoid toxicity
Avoiding things-people, departments, committees, events, etc.-these are “toxic” while developing strategies to deal with other non-toxic but still challenging learning situations
8. Underline your target
Remind yourself as a teacher – why you became a teacher. If you are not able to realize this vision, see if you can reconcile this vision with your immediate circumstance. If not, it gives you a hint of what may come after.
9. Develop the thinking of growth as a teacher
Growth in the growth is important to students and they also matter to teachers.
10. Learn with gratitude
Thank you as much as possible.
11. If you are able to start small
Focus on good things and try to have more good things every day than bad. (This is the beginning.)
12. Take care of your body too
Take care of yourself physical: Exercise, meditate, do yoga, fall asleep, etc. Whatever it takes to make your body feel good.
13. If you need help, get help
Don’t be a hero. If you need official support for mental health (in the form of therapy or medicines), there is no reason to hesitate. Take it. Why wait while you are really unhappy?
14. They have a life outside of teaching
Have life outside of teaching – one full of creativity and hope and people and opportunity. No matter how teaching Nobile, it’s not worth your well -being.
15. Don’t feel stuck
If possible, never “hit” where you feel like “you need to” teach or “can’t give up.” There is always a way forward. Every time someone feels “stuck”, it can convince you that your situation is more wicker than it really is.
Teachers work every day to build emotionally strong and healthy children, forming the next generation of leaders and creators of change. As the responsibilities of the teachers continue to grow at a rapid pace, we must do everything we can to support their mental well -being. We need to support the “whole teacher”.
By providing the emotional support that our teachers so desperately need and deserve, we can help them grow professionally and live a more life -long life while fighting the shortage of teachers in America, which puts tension to the entire education system.
Dr. Jean Miller is the chairman of the University of Denver Campus, and Dr. Sharon Hastings is a clinical director and head of the Clinic for Consulting at the University of Phoenix; Growing the whole teacher: Mental Health in Education; 13 Mental Health Tips for Teachers
