Improving Mental Health and Wellbeing for Education Professionals

According to the UK’s Health and Safety Executive, teaching staff and education professionals report the highest rates of work-related stress, depression and anxiety in Britain.*

Reducing the stigma around mental health
Spotting workplace-specific signs of mental ill health
Ways to improve mental health for education professionals
Mental Health Awareness Week 2020 – kindness and mental health
More help for improving mental health for education professionals
Tutors and teachers insurance from Towergate
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Spotting workplace-specific signs of mental ill health

Often there are triggers for people that lead to deteriorating mental health and behaviours. Some life events carry a higher risk of affecting someone’s mental health. However, it is important to remember that everyone is an individual and will respond differently to life events.

The key to spotting mental ill health lies in noticing changes in the person.

Physical changes

Suffering from minor illnesses - frequent headaches or stomach upsets
Difficulty sleeping or constant tiredness – being run down
Lack of care over appearance

Emotional and behavioural changes

Irritability, aggression or tearfulness - being withdrawn and not participating in conversations or social activities
Increased arguments or conflict with others
Erratic or socially unacceptable behaviour – being louder or more exuberant than usual
Loss of confidence
Difficulty remembering things
Loss of humour

Changes at work

Working too many hours: first in, last out; sending emails out of hours or whilst on leave
Increased sickness absence
An employee who is normally punctual, arriving late
Increased consumption of caffeine or alcohol
Taking on too much work and volunteering for every new project, perhaps leading to increased errors, missing deadlines or forgetting tasks
Negative changes to ways of working or socialising with colleagues – indecision, inability to concentrate

Ways to improve mental health for education professionals

Like physical health, we can all benefit by looking after our mental health. There are five simple things you can do – the Five Ways.

When practised regularly, they boost resilience, boost wellbeing and offer some protection from developing mental health problems.

They’re beneficial for everyone, whether you have a mental health problem or not.

Mental Health Five Ways To Help

Mental Health Awareness Week 2020 – kindness and mental health

Mental health charity Mental Health Foundation chose kindness as their theme for 2020's Mental Health Awareness Week, something we have witnessed since the start of the global pandemic. Kindness strengthens relationships and is recognised across all cultures around the world.

Kindness is an antidote to isolation and helps reduce stress, bring fresh perspective and deepen relationships, and it helps to create a sense of belonging. The charity is encouraging people to be courageous and show kindness to support each other and harness the benefits for the giver and receiver.

More help for improving mental health for education professionals

Tutors and teachers insurance from Towergate

As well as taking care of your mental health as an education professional, you need to make sure you are protected against the unexpected with adequate insurance.

Our teachers and tutors policies can be tailored to your needs, including professional indemnity (PI), civil liability and public liability cover.

*https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/teacher-well-being-at-work-in-schools-and-further-education-providers/summary-and-recommendations-teacher-well-being-research-report

This is a marketing article by Towergate Insurance.