Teachers and Workplace mental health, an Occupational Health case study By Phina Amahoro (RGN, MPH) Trainee OHA at PAM Group Ltd.
M
ental illness is one of the
structure to one’s day; all elements
main causes for sickness
conducive to positive wellbeing
absence and presenteeism
outcomes (Waddell and Burton 2006)?
within the UK and therefore has a
Conversely, the evidence available
significant impact on productivity
indicates that work can also be a source
within the workplace. The number of
of stress and contribute to the onset
teachers reporting a mental health
and /or worsening of common mental
problem lasting longer than one year
health disorders (Waddell and Burton
and using antidepressant medication is
2006) and therefore, alongside research,
growing. There is a growing body of evidence that a substantial number of teaching staff within the UK are reporting work-related stress (Wettstein et al., 2020). Sadly, the department of education says that around 1/3 of new teachers resign within the first five years of completing their training, with contributing factors being reported as anxiety, mood and sleep disorders. (Jerrim et al., 2021).
substantial number of teaching staff within the UK are reporting work-related stress
exploring case studies, undertaken by Occupational Health, may provide some additional information. Referrals to Occupational Health (OH) are made by managers when concerns for health and wellbeing or advice relating to health are required. In these
case studies, 25 management referrals carried out by an OH trainee advisor via telephone consultation during 20202021 were studied. The study subjects
Income and work are two important
were limited to referrals of primary and
factors in mental wellbeing (Phillips et
secondary school teachers with mental
al., 2011), so why are teachers leaving a
health problems causing absence or
role which has numerous positive
concerns within the workplace. The
factors such as a good income, a sense of
severity of symptoms, length of an
identity, social status, purpose and
absence, support and medication were
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