How can we reduce stress and increase support for teachers?

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Well-being happens by making our physical, emotional, social, and mental health a priority. When this isn’t a priority in the workplace, staff can develop chronic stress that impacts their lives both at work and at home. As teaching is considered one of the most stressful professions, teachers who support the well-being and learning of students are more likely to experience the following types of chronic stress:

• Burnout: High work-related stress piled up over months or years including mental, physical, and emotional exhaustion that leads to not being able to cope with demands (e.g. from parents, students, policies, curriculum) 
• Compassion fatigue: Feeling helpless when constantly exposed to students who you can’t help and who are suffering (e.g. from poverty, homelessness, racism, violence) 
• Emotional labour: Feeling you must suppress your emotions daily (e.g. by keeping a smile on) when your personal values don’t match up with work expectations (e.g. wanting more time to support every student but needing to meet curriculum demands)

School communities that promote well-being are supportive, allow teachers autonomy, and promote healthy relationships. Part of achieving this means identifying the root causes of teacher stress.

Here are three sources of teacher stress and tips to cope with and reduce it:

1.  Job Stress: Job demands (e.g. unrealistic deadlines) and lack of resources (e.g. time, materials to do the job)

        Tips for school district leaders:

• • Ensure long-term, well-resourced PD that allows teachers to continuously learn and be supported in their roles 
  • Provide autonomy in pedagogy and curriculum decisions to allow teachers to feel respected and in control 
  • Develop policies and plans to increase self-efficacy and reduce job stress (e.g. shared decision-making, employee benefits, mental health toolkits)

2. Personal Stress: Need for more social-emotional competencies (e.g. self-awareness) and more self-efficacy (confidence in one’s ability to succeed at tasks)

         Tips for teachers: 

• • • Develop time management strategies that meet your needs
    • Prioritize your own well-being and learn about healthy strategies to cope with stress
    • Share with and learn from colleagues and supervisors who can help you cope
    • Find ways to live out the values that brought you to teaching (e.g. taking time to get to know your students)
      

3. Workplace Stress: Unclear boundaries between personal and work life (e.g. lack of work-life balance, job insecurity)

           Tips for principals: 

• • Lead activities that model healthy habits at work (e.g. healthy eating, fitness challenges)
  • Promote working “smart,” not working “long,” and limit after hours work 
  • Ask teachers what they need help with – don’t wait for them to come to you
  • Create and share resources to streamline administrative tasks at busy times of the year

While stress is a normal part of everyday life, stress over a long-term period negatively impacts the health and well-being of teachers. Research demonstrates that teacher well-being has a direct impact on student learning; therefore, investing in supports and resources to prevent teachers from burning out creates a healthy and supportive environment where both teachers and students can flourish. 

Meet the Expert(s)

Dr. Susan Rodger

Psychologist and Associate Professor at the Faculty of Education at Western University and a Research Associate at the Centre for School-Based Mental Health

Susan Rodger is a Psychologist and Associate Professor at the Faculty of Education at Western University and a Research Associate at the Centre for School-B...

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