The back-to-school season can be exciting. Kids get to make new friends and learn new things. Parents get some time freed up in their day while their kids are at school. And teachers have a whole new year with new students ahead of them. If that last sentence made you feel more stressed than anything else, it’s time to talk about teacher mental health.
Educators, you’ve had a hard few years. If you’re feeling burnt out or worn down, it’s absolutely understandable. Ideally, this summer delivered at least a little restoration for you. But if being back in the classroom is feeling heavy, know that you’re not alone. Teacher mental health is in such a distressed state that even passionate educators who’ve been in the classroom for decades are quitting.
Before you give up a meaningful career that you worked hard to build, know that you have options. You don’t have to keep going down the same path you’ve been on. We have some changes you can make to protect your mental wellbeing.
Teacher mental health tips
Set boundaries.
Virtual schooling gave parents around-the-clock access to teachers. But it’s okay to put some boundaries back up. Rather than being continually available, set office hours and communicate them to your students and their parents. You deserve free time that’s truly yours. If someone tries to talk during a non-office hour time, gently but firmly remind them of your office hours.
Find a sub you like.
Mental health is just as important as physical health. Take care of yourself.
That gets a lot easier to do you if have a sub or two you know you trust to take over the helm when you take a mental health day. Start building connections with the substitutes at your school so you can have someone at the ready if you need it.
Try mental health boosters.
If you feel like your mental health is suffering, there are some approachable ways you can make changes. Get moving for 30 minutes a day (even a walk with do), develop a gratitude practice, work to get good sleep each night, and, perhaps most importantly, find stress management techniques that work for you.
Talk to other teachers.
You’re not in this alone. The people you teach with are probably feeling a lot of the same things. It can feel awkward to talk about what’s challenging, but even a simple “have you noticed…” can get the conversation going. Your fellow teachers can provide a support group to listen, share what’s worked for them, and encourage your school to prioritize teacher mental health.
Make mental health a conversation at your school
Caring for yourself, your fellow teachers, and your students gets easier when your school has a mental health care program in place. The first step there is to start talking about student and teacher mental health. Keep yourself open to those conversations.
It can also be transformative to work with your school to develop a school-based mental health program. Fortunately, you don’t have to build that from scratch. Some great resources exist to help create a support system at your school that serves both student and teacher mental health.
Creating change at your school might take time. Make sure you’re taking care of yourself in the meantime. If your mental health needs some attention, our therapists are here. To connect to our local team, contact the Ventura Counseling & Wellness Center today.
