The Importance of Teacher Mental Health and Wellness

The stress and uncertainty of teaching has taken a tremendous toll on educator mental health. Put simply, teachers and school staff are exhausted and stressed out, and that impacts their students. Teacher wellness correlates with teaching effectiveness and student achievement. And with research showing that teacher stress may lead to reduced job satisfaction, burnout, and poor work performance, it’s become critical that districts prioritize teacher wellness for the sake of both educators and their students.

Teacher wellness, or well-being, is a “measure” of an educator’s social, physical, and mental health, as well as their belief that they can do their job effectively. Some of these factors directly impact a teacher’s wellness or well-being:

• Working conditions
• Feeling empowered to do their jobs effectively
• Compensation
• Recognition for their work
• Workload
• Professional development
• Work-life balance
• Mental health and well-being support

Why Is Teacher Wellness & Mental Health Important?

Teacher well-being directly impacts student performance. If teachers are not in the proper headspace to effectively do their jobs because of stress, exhaustion, or burnout, how are students supposed to learn? The bottom line is, if student success and wellness are top priorities for districts, teacher wellness must be an equally important priority.

Teachers need to know their opinions matter, that they’re valued for their abilities, and that they’re supported by school leadership and colleagues. Similarly, if teachers are feeling positive about their lives outside of school, they’re much more likely to walk through the school doors every day confident, content, and ready to make a difference. An educator’s holistic mental health is of critical importance as it relates to their overall effectiveness and performance in the classroom.

How Is Teacher Well-Being Measured?

School administrators can measure teacher well-being through:

• Questionnaires: Tools like the Teacher Subjective Well-being Questionnaire help measure teacher well-being specific to their jobs.
• Individual Feedback: One-on-one sessions encourage open dialogue to address teacher concerns.
• Focus Groups: Small group Q&As help identify pressing issues concerning teacher wellness.

Tips for Teacher Well-Being

Teachers can take proactive steps to improve their wellness:

• Stay focused on goals: Clear, measurable goals help reduce stress and keep teachers motivated.
• Rediscover their purpose: Reflecting on why they entered the profession can rekindle their passion for teaching.
• Create new relationships: Building bonds with students, colleagues, and parents fosters a supportive network.
• Maintain healthy habits: Getting sufficient sleep and eating healthily are key to physical and mental wellness.
• Consider talking to someone: Whether it’s a therapist, counselor, or trusted friend, sharing stressors can help alleviate anxiety.

How Can Schools Support Teacher Mental Wellness and Well-Being?

Schools can implement these initiatives:

• Offer professional development: Provide access to wellness-specific PD like the EmpowerU course and other learning resources.
• Provide a strong support system: Ensure teachers feel supported by school leaders and colleagues.
• Create a positive school culture: Foster a safe environment that respects, values, and trusts teachers.

How Can Catapult Learning Help?

Catapult Learning offers a comprehensive Educator Well-Being PD services package to address teacher mental health and wellness through:

• A three-day wellness institute focused on teacher self-care
• Instructor-led workshops on self-care, wellness, and mental health literacy
• A virtual portal with 1:1 coaching from a wellness expert
• Educator Resilience Training with over 12 hours of virtual self-care and wellness training

Learn more about our Educator Well-Being PD services package by visiting Catapult Learning.