The National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT) will debate suicide prevention training this weekend after warnings of a “mental health emergency” within the teaching profession. The motion comes after former headteacher Ruth Perry took her own life in January 2023 following a damning Ofsted report on her school. After her inquest, a coroner ruled the report “contributed” to Perry’s death and said further action was necessary to prevent future suicides.
The NASUWT is calling for fully-funded mandatory mental health training for all school leaders and suicide prevention training for all education professionals. The union argues that work-related stress and other pressures are contributing to a “mental health emergency” among teachers that is reaching “crisis point”. An NASUWT survey of over 11,700 members found that 86% of teachers surveyed believed their job had a negative impact on their mental health over the past 12 months. Almost a quarter increased their alcohol intake because of work, and 12% used or increased their reliance on antidepressants.
NASUWT general secretary Patrick Roach argued “too many teachers are having their health destroyed” by the pressures associated with the job, and the union is committed to addressing the epidemic of mental ill health among its members. An anonymous teacher who participated in the survey said they experienced “vomiting with stress before work [and] crying in work after badly behaved students so couldn’t teach next class”, while another said they felt “drained emotionally and mentally when I get home resulting in me not giving my two daughters the best mum.”
The vote, which is expected to pass, will inform NASUWT’s advocacy on behalf of its 300,000 members. The UK Department for Education offered a £1,200 grant for mental health training for state schools which closes to new applicants this weekend. If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article you can visit the BBC’s Action Line
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