{"id":174401,"date":"2025-08-25T13:18:09","date_gmt":"2025-08-25T13:18:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/174401\/"},"modified":"2025-08-25T13:18:09","modified_gmt":"2025-08-25T13:18:09","slug":"teachers-depression-anxiety-and-stress-at-three-times-the-national-norm-new-study","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/174401\/","title":{"rendered":"Teachers’ depression, anxiety and stress at three times the national norm: new study"},"content":{"rendered":"

Causes of mental health issues<\/p>\n

The research also found that\u00a0workload manageability\u00a0was a key factor influencing teachers\u2019 mental health. Teachers who reported their workload as unmanageable were significantly more likely to experience depressive symptoms, which in turn were strongly associated with their intentions to leave the profession. Notably, 68.8% of teachers described their workload as largely or completely unmanageable.<\/p>\n

\u201cTeachers are telling us they\u2019re overwhelmed\u00a0\u2013 not by teaching itself, but by the growing burden of non-core tasks,\u201d said Dr Granziera. \u201cAdministrative duties, compliance requirements, and excessive data collection are taking time away from lesson planning and student engagement. This is leading to burnout and a sense of professional disillusionment.\u201d<\/p>\n

Impact on education<\/p>\n

The study\u2019s findings come at a time when Australia is facing a critical teacher shortage. According to recent data from the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership<\/a>, up to 30% of teachers are considering leaving the profession before retirement age. The results shown in the paper add new urgency to these concerns, showing that poor mental health\u00a0\u2013 particularly depression\u00a0\u2013 is a significant predictor of turnover intentions.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis research provides clear evidence that improving teachers\u2019 working conditions is not just beneficial\u00a0\u2013 it\u2019s essential,\u201d said Dr Granziera. \u201cIf we want to retain skilled educators and ensure quality education for all students, we must address the root causes of teacher stress and mental health decline.\u201d<\/p>\n

The study also highlighted disparities based on location, with teachers in rural and remote areas reporting higher levels of depressive symptoms. Female teachers were also more likely to report depressive symptoms and turnover intentions, reflecting broader trends in occupational mental health.<\/p>\n

What needs to change<\/p>\n

In response to these findings, the research team is calling for a multi-pronged approach to support teacher wellbeing, including:<\/p>\n