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TEACHERS are suffering a “frightening and disturbing” catalogue of mental health problems because of their work, NASUWT conference heard yesterday.
The results of a survey carried out by the teaching union revealed that 67 per cent of teachers say their job had adversely affected their mental health in the last year.
A huge 78 per cent of teachers reported experiencing work-related anxiousness, 84 per cent sleeplessness and 33 per cent poor health.
More than one in 10 reported that the strain of their job had led to relationship breakdown, while 25 per cent said they consumed increasing amounts of alcohol, tobacco and caffeine to help them cope.
Some — 2 per cent — admitted to self-harming as a result of work-related pressures.
Delegates debated a motion condemning the lack of support for teachers with mental health issues.
NASUWT general secretary Chris Keates said: “These figures make frightening and disturbing reading.
“The health and wellbeing of the workforce has never been a priority for this coalition government.
“The scale of the problem is unprecedented. Teachers are being broken and damaged and their lives blighted and it is clear where the responsibility lies.”
