Stress Awareness Month - it's time to look after yourself

01 April 2021

Today marks the start of Stress Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness of the causes of personal stress, and how to overcome them.

Two adults in conversation

The 2020 Education Support Teacher Wellbeing Index found that nearly two-thirds (62%) of education professionals describe themselves as stressed, and 52% of education professionals have considered leaving the profession due to pressures on their health and wellbeing.

We know that this has been a particularly stressful year for school staff with school closures, remote teaching, exam cancellations, and trying to support pupils to cope with this challenging year. New research from Education Support, published last week, found that almost half of all teachers have considered leaving the profession during this academic year, while 8 out of 10 report that they are stressed from work.

We launched our free online mental health training for school staff in August 2020, and it’s never been more needed.

Over 43,000 teachers and school staff have now signed up for the training which empowers them to support pupils’ wellbeing, as well as manage personal stress to work more effectively. Here’s what some of the participants had to say:

I found new ways to manage my own stress levels, so staff and children had a calmer sense while around me. It was really fascinating and a different journey that I am enjoying being a part of. Jackie Doherty, Primary School Cover Supervisor, Yorkshire

The course so far has felt reassuring and has had a positive effect on my mental health. I feel it will allow me to reflect on my current practice and inspire me to be a better teacher. Eleanor Lennon, Primary School Teacher, Edinburgh

I think it's really important to understand that our own mental well-being as practitioners is really important and that it has an impact on the students that we teach. Without a strong grounding and understanding of our own emotional well-being (emotional intelligence), we cannot teach our young people this either. Really interesting opening perspective and I am very much looking forward to next week's sessions. Kelly Mccoll, English Teacher, Northampton

One of the biggest things I learned is that it’s not just about children’s mental health, but about the mental health of the teacher too. Primary school teacher, Scotland

It's time to look after yourself. Join thousands of other teachers and school staff across the UK by signing up for the Mental Health Champions – Foundation programme.

Upon completion of the programme, you will also join our alumni community in the Place2Be Staffroom. Here you will have access to additional resources, join a network of mental health aware peers, and help shape the support that Place2Be offers to schools.

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