Staying Mentally Healthy During Your Teaching Career by Stones Samuel;Glazzard Jonathan;

Author:Stones, Samuel;Glazzard, Jonathan;
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Critical Publishing

CASE STUDY

Reuben is a middle leader and has been teaching in a secondary school for four years. In the third year of his career, Reuben was appointed to his middle leadership position and became responsible for a team of seven teaching staff within his subject area. During the same academic year, he experienced significant challenges in his personal life, and he began to find these pressures difficult to manage alongside his new leadership role. As an inexperienced leader and a teacher with only four years of experience, he felt that he had not yet developed sufficient resilience to cope with these challenges and pressures without seeking additional support. He had recognised that he felt he could not cope and decided to speak to his employer rather than ‘plough on’ as if everything was fine. The employer offered confidential non-judgemental advice and made Reuben aware of the counselling and support services available both through the school and teaching union. Reuben’s employer provided a flexible working agreement which allowed him to focus on the challenges he was experiencing in his personal life. Upon his return to work, a senior colleague was given some of Reuben’s responsibilities to ensure that his phased return to work was manageable and that the quality of his teaching and leadership was not compromised.

RECOGNISING WHEN YOU ARE NOT COPING

It is important to listen to warning signs that your body communicates to you when you are not coping. Signs could include feeling stressed, breathlessness, panic attacks, low mood, self-imposed isolation, headaches, insomnia and changes in diet and physical appearance. This is not an exhaustive list and the signs will vary between individuals. The important thing is to acknowledge that you are not coping and to seek help from others that you trust as soon as possible before the problem escalates. It is important not to ‘plough on’ as if everything is fine. Do not be afraid to take advice from your doctor and do not feel afraid or guilty about taking time off work if you need this to help you recover. Your employer has a duty of care to you and therefore must give priority to your well-being. Talk to people who will listen to you without judging you.

CRITICAL QUESTIONS

What are the warning signs that someone is not coping?

If you notice that a colleague is not coping, what might you do next?

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