Educational wrokforce: The mental health challenges for school teaching staff and school systems

Mental health issues are widespread in the educational setting. Both the recognition and the prevention of mental illness in students and, to a lesser extent, staff have been the subject of research interest. The international and Australian literature on the impact of being a schoolteacher on mental health is inconsistent and many factors are reported as being influential in mediating a risk. Mental illness is, however, commonly identified as the reason for early retirement and sick leave. Age, gender and social profiles have all been associated with poor measures of mental health in teachers but, increasingly, these are seen as less important than work stress. Providing the right social and organisational environment in schools is the key response to reducing occupational mental health risks for teachers and staff.