Mental Health Considerations for Educators and Students
There has been a growing concern about mental health in education over the last few years. This is not just a trend, but a pressing issue that demands our attention. We are witnessing teachers leaving the classroom and families seeking alternative schooling for their children. The culprit? Stress.
Stress could be the umbrella under which everything falls. Teachers are underpaid and overworked, and there is simply not enough time in the day to do everything they are asked to do while living their lives. Research shows that students spend too much time being sedentary in a classroom, which can be linked to both physical and mental health issues. This is stressful for both parties, leading them to simply go elsewhere.
Time Time is the most precious resource in education and in life. We’ve all felt the pressure of a busy schedule, but time is a scarce commodity for a teacher. Students spend 40 hours a week in a classroom, focusing primarily on performance and assessment. Time is irreplaceable, and how it’s used in education is crucial. Educators, students, and their families have been re-evaluating their time in education over the last five years, and many now choose to use it differently.
Expectations The expectations placed on educators and their students are simply too much. For a teacher who genuinely cares about their students and teaches to make a difference, it is challenging to feel like their success is measured by a number. For the student who shows up and tries their best to learn everything being taught to them by rapid fire in 180 days, it is frustrating to feel like their worth as a student is based on a number. These unrealistic expectations are taking a toll on the mental health of both the teacher and the student. The art of teaching and learning is being overshadowed by assessment, and the traditional school experience for many is not working anymore.
Stress Lack of time coupled with unreasonable expectations is the perfect recipe for stress. Stress manifests in various ways, impacting students both mentally and physically. Student stress might look like:
Persistent worry and fear about academic performance
• Heightened anxiety, especially during tests
• Difficulty concentrating
• Overwhelming or racing thoughts.
Numerous studies and research have shed additional light on the detrimental effects of academic pressure on students’ mental health, especially as it relates to feeling depressed or overwhelmed, and likewise for teachers.
There are school environments out there that work very hard to create a positive and nurturing environment for their staff and their students. The schools that have succeeded in doing so should model this for the schools struggling with teacher shortages and student attendance. Unfortunately, it can’t change overnight, but it can change. In the meantime, with the new school year approaching fast remember teachers and their students and do what you can to eliminate their stress as they embark upon a new school year.
Written By: Meredith Biesinger
Professional Writer/ Education Specialist
Meredith Biesinger is a licensed dyslexia therapist in Mississippi, in addition to being an experienced classroom teacher and K-12 administrator. Meredith also works as a consultant, where she bridges the bridge the gap between K-12 school districts and ed-tech organizations. With a passion for literacy, she is also a professional writer and syndicated author. With a M.Ed in Educational Leadership and a B.S. in English Education and Creative Writing, she has had rich and diverse opportunities to teach students and education professionals in different parts of the country as well as overseas.
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