Teachers report anxiety as a common emotion they feel every day: How schools can promote employee health

Teachers feel anxious and overwhelmed. Here are some activities schools can adopt to support the physical and mental health of teachers.

It’s normal to feel anxious at times. Anxiety is a natural reaction to stress. However, feeling anxious and stressed most days is not normal and can be a sign of an anxiety disorder that can seriously affect your daily life. Trauma, drugs or alcohol, medical problems, certain medications, etc. It is estimated that the global prevalence of anxiety and depression increased significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Anxiety and depression symptoms were widely reported among healthcare workers during the coronavirus pandemic. Another occupation that is considered stressful is teaching. Studies on teachers’ emotional experiences of everyday events in the classroom have joy, anxiety and anger as the three most common feelings reported by teachers.

A 2020 study published in the Journal of School Psychology found that disruptive student behavior during classroom events can provoke strong negative emotions in teachers and affect occupational well-being. points out. Citing research, the US CDC also describes anxiety as a common emotion that teachers feel every day.

How schools can support the mental and physical health of teachers

Here are some employee wellness activities that schools can adopt to support the physical and mental health of their teachers, as suggested by the US CDC.

• Establish employee wellness programs for school personnel, including healthy eating and physical activity services
• Introduce physical activity breaks during class (students can participate). Regular physical activity can help reduce stress and anxiety.
• Organize exercise challenges (e.g. step count challenges, exercise time challenges, etc.).
• Schools can have mindfulness meditation breaks during class for teachers and students. Alternatively, you may find her five-minute mindfulness conference calls for teachers and other school staff helpful.
• Make stress management and mental health resources and information available to teachers.
• Recognize the contributions and achievements of teachers and other staff and celebrate their milestones.
• Encourage staff involvement in the health care of school personnel.

“Wellness is more important than ever during the COVID-19 pandemic. Promoting the physical and mental health of school personnel also helps support the health and academic success of students,” said the CDC. said.

In addition, implementing a school staff wellness program will increase staff retention and productivity, reduce absenteeism, and reduce employee health care costs, the agency said.

Global prevalence of anxiety disorders

The World Health Organization (WHO) reported a significant increase in the global prevalence of anxiety and depression (25%) in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Unprecedented stress from social isolation, loneliness, fear of infection, death of loved ones, and financial worries were cited as stressors leading to anxiety and depression.