In response to alarming findings revealing a “mental health emergency” among educators, a unanimous vote by union members has endorsed a proposal for comprehensive suicide prevention strategies within the teaching community.
The proposal, backed at the annual conference of the NASUWT teaching union in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, comes in the wake of distressing revelations from a workforce survey. Shockingly, 23% of the 12,000 respondents reported increased alcohol consumption, while 12% admitted to using or upping their intake of antidepressants due to job-related stress. Moreover, 3% disclosed incidents of self-harm directly linked to their work.
Emotional testimonies and the grim reality of colleagues resorting to suicide or contemplating it further underscored the urgency of the situation. The proposal implores the union’s executive to advocate for widespread mental health first aid training in all educational institutions, coupled with fully funded mandatory mental health training.
The tragic suicide of primary school headteacher Ruth Perry, while awaiting an Ofsted report outcome, has served as a poignant example of the toll exacted by the profession. Reports have also surfaced linking at least eight other teacher suicides to Ofsted assessments.
Row Martin, the motion’s proposer, highlighted the distressing trend of teacher suicides, including that of Perry, emphasizing the imperative to prevent further losses. Delegate Kuldip Hoonjan shared personal anecdotes of two teacher friends who succumbed to suicide, further underscoring the gravity of the situation.
The unanimously passed motion sounded the alarm on the escalating rates of suicide attempts and suicidal thoughts among teachers, expressing fears that these figures will only continue to rise.
During the conference, a teacher from Fife recounted grappling with suicidal thoughts amid challenging pupil behavior, emphasizing the profound toll on mental health within the profession. Others echoed similar sentiments, citing the relentless pressures of inspections, government targets, paperwork overload, and excessive working hours as contributing factors to deteriorating mental health among school staff.
Richard Kempa, a delegate from Northamptonshire, starkly labeled the situation as a “crisis” in the teaching profession, emphasizing the urgent need for action.
Responding to these concerns, a spokesperson for the Department for Education acknowledged the gravity of the situation and pledged to prioritize the well-being of teachers and school staff.
