If you’re a teacher, you don’t need statistics or a scientific study to tell you how stressful the job can be. You live it every day. The early starts and the grading or lesson planning that fill your evenings and weekends. You try your best to cope with it because you genuinely want your students to succeed.Â
But experiencing that constant, chronic stress comes at a cost, one that can affect your mental health both inside and outside of the classroom.
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Whether you’re in the education sector or not, everyone is aware of how stressful teaching can be. The data backs it up. A RAND Corporation survey found that 73% of teachers reported frequent educator stress, versus 35% of all working adults.[1]Â
Among school principals who took part in the survey, the number rose to 85%.[1] These numbers put teaching well above most professions in terms of stress.Â
Teachers are responsible for the development of other people’s children on a daily basis, all year round. When you add in often limited resources to manage classes, parental expectations, admin demands, and the constant need for energy, focus, and creativity in lessons, it’s no wonder so many teachers report high stress levels.Â
Compassion fatigue is another factor, which occurs when a person spends their working day tuned into how everyone else around them is feeling. For teachers, that means taking on the emotional states of their students, and with a full class to manage at any given point, the result is emotional exhaustion.Â
This drains their energy and resources, both in the classroom and outside of it. You can’t teach well without caring, and you can’t care about your students and your job all day without it taking a lot out of you.
This compounded stress drives some people out of the profession. The RAND survey found that one in three teachers reported they were likely to leave their role by the end of the 2021-22 school year.[1]Â
Everyone experiences some form of stress in their working life, but when it becomes a daily feature, it can fuel other, more serious conditions.
Surveys have found that 59% of teachers reported feeling symptoms of burnout versus 44% in other professions.[1] To understand why, we first need to look at the three main dimensions of burnout, as outlined by the Maslach Burnout Inventory, and adjust them for the teaching environment.[2]
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While school burnout certainly affects the teacher, it also has a ripple effect on their students. One review found that teacher burnout was associated with worse academic achievement and less motivated students.[3]Â
Teacher emotional exhaustion was also linked to poorer reading and math outcomes.[3] An exhausted teacher simply can’t teach at their best, however much they care.
The RAND survey also measured teacher depression. It found that 28% of teachers reported symptoms of depression, and nearly a quarter said they were not coping well with educator stress.[1]
It’s one thing to lose motivation due to classroom stress, but if that lack of motivation comes home with you every day, keep an eye on it. Depression doesn’t always present like sadness either. You may feel like you’re running on empty or are physically and mentally exhausted.Â
If weekends and breaks don’t restore your energy or lift emotional numbness, these are signs that the stress has progressed into something clinical.
One review of teacher mental health found that the prevalence of anxiety reported among teachers was 17%.[4] This can affect everything from confidence in the classroom to a teacher’s home life and overall well-being.
If the constant vigilance you need in the classroom doesn’t switch off when you go home, or you’re persistently worried about what the next teaching day might bring, don’t ignore it.Â
Anxiety can keep your body in fight-or-flight mode long after the perceived threat has passed, which can also result in emotional shutdown.
AMFM is here to help you or your loved one take the next steps towards an improved mental well-being.
If the signs of depression or anxiety have persisted for at least two weeks and interfere with daily functioning, it’s time to speak with a healthcare provider. You don’t need to wait for a crisis point to ask for help.
There’s a common belief among teachers that the summer break or a school holiday will reset things for them. However, research finds that while health and well-being do improve during a vacation, the benefits soon fade once you’re back at work.[5] If you’re feeling less and less restored after each break, it’s likely a bigger problem than tiredness.
Keep in mind that feeling the effects of burnout or another mental health condition doesn’t mean you can’t handle the job. Many teachers going through emotional burnout worry about this, especially when so much has gone into a lifelong teaching career.Â
What it does show is that the job has created a condition that needs professional attention, just as a physical injury from a sports-based role would need medical care.
If you’re diagnosed with a mental health condition, outpatient treatment may be recommended for you. This involves attending weekly sessions that provide the support and care you need. The sessions are flexible, so you can fit your work and daily commitments around treatment.
If your symptoms of burnout, depression, or anxiety haven’t responded to time away from the job, or even outpatient therapy, residential treatment offers a different kind of environment.Â
Typical residential programs last 45 to 60 days. During that time, you step away from the classroom entirely and into a calming environment that’s focused on your recovery. Treatment addresses the root cause of your emotional difficulties, like burnout driving depression or anxiety, or a combination of conditions that need treating together.Â
You’ll also learn practical skills to help you deal with the stressors of the job in a healthy way.
Worries about job security can keep teachers from getting the help they need. But there are job protections in place for teachers who need treatment. The Family and Medical Leave Act entitles eligible employees to up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave for a serious health condition, including mental health conditions.[6]
Public school boards and public and private elementary and high schools are covered employers under FMLA.[6] This means your position is held while you’re away, and your medical information must be kept confidential by your employer. The school can know you’re on medical leave without ever knowing the diagnosis.
There are eligibility requirements, so check where you stand before making any plans. You need to have worked for your employer for at least 12 months and have completed at least 1,250 hours of service in the prior year.[6] You also need to work at a school or educational institution that has at least 50 employees within 75 miles.
A 45- to 60-day residential program at AMFM fits well within the 12-week FMLA window. That means most eligible teachers can complete a full course of treatment with their job protected. Some teachers time treatment for the summer, reducing the impact on their classes.
A Mission For Michael (AMFM) provides treatment for adults experiencing various conditions. Mental Health support is a phone call away – call 866-478-4383 to learn about our current treatment options.
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If the stress of teaching has progressed into something you can’t manage on your own, AMFM (A Mission For Michael) Mental Health Treatment can help you take the next step toward recovery. Treatment aims to address both the condition you’re experiencing and the factors that contributed to it. That way, you recover and build the tools needed to return to the classroom.Â
We understand that taking time away from teaching is a difficult decision, but educator wellness is not something that can wait for summer break. Our team of expert clinicians believes in treatment persistence and will personalize your treatment plan so you can achieve lasting, life-changing outcomes.
We offer an intimate, focused mental health treatment experience for adults in home-like settings that are carefully maintained to be peaceful, comfortable spaces. AMFM Mental Health Treatment provides the full spectrum of care, including residential treatment and multiple levels of outpatient treatment programs.
Our locations in California, Minnesota, Virginia, and Washington accept insurance and are in-network with most major providers. To check your insurance coverage for mental health care, simply complete our confidential online verification form or call us at 866-478-4383.
Reach out to us if you would like to start the admissions process or learn more about how we can support your mental well-being. Our compassionate team is available 24/7 to answer your questions and provide guidance with no obligation.
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At AMFM, we strive to provide the most up-to-date and accurate medical information based on current best practices, evolving information, and our team’s approach to care. Our aim is that our readers can make informed decisions about their healthcare.
Our reviewers are credentialed medical providers specializing and practicing behavioral healthcare. We follow strict guidelines when fact-checking information and only use credible sources when citing statistics and medical information. Look for the medically reviewed badge on our articles for the most up-to-date and accurate information.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate or out of date, please let us know at info@amfmhealthcare.com
