Teacher’s Story: Mental Health Affects Everyone

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Teacher’s Story: Mental Health Affects Everyone

Overview:

As teacher burnout, depression, and anxiety reach critical levels, schools must prioritize teacher mental health through structured support, open dialogue, and effective and well-being strategies so that teachers can succeed—and, better support their students.

Get to work, start a to-do list. Play beat the clock as you rush to get everything done before the clock strikes and the hallways are full of students. Every teacher knows this feeling well. There are days when suddenly it’s the end of the day, and you realize that your coffee didn’t run out, you crossed 2 things off your list, but somehow you added 5 more. Now more than ever, teachers need to make sure they prioritize and prioritize their mental health. Our classes are as good as we are.

Yes, we are teachers, but first we are people.

Mental Health Crisis

Teachers are now struggling more than ever to protect their mental health. According to the Comprehensive Center Network article, a survey was conducted of “1,479 teachers across the country, 59% of respondents reported frequent work-related stress, 60% reported burnout, 22% reported difficulty coping, and 19% reported symptoms of depression” (Matlach & Denton). A teacher’s attitude can make or break the day. Readers can see how we feel, whether we want them to or not. Research has found that the number of teachers reporting symptoms of depression is twice as high as other professions (Cannock, 2025).

These statistics are shocking.

According to the article “What Causes Teacher Burnout,” author Tim Walker asserts that 78% of teachers have considered quitting teaching. This is a number we can no longer ignore. Teachers are heroes. They make a thousand decisions a day, manage their classes, teach lessons, manage behavior, and are always ready for anything. When asked to do more, they do. They do whatever they have to do for their students. They show up every day and give their all to their students. They know that students need good teachers. Therefore, since teachers are the ones who need help, we must intervene. We cannot hope that this problem will go away by itself.

Let’s think about it. If a student is struggling, can we leave him struggling alone? No.

If a student is depressed, can we pretend we didn’t notice? No.

So, let’s do something to end this problem.

Why Is Mental Health Struggling?

You may be wondering, what happened? How did things change so quickly? Why are people who teach the future of our country struggling? Why are people who have the future of the country in their hands depressed? Why do teachers live and not develop?

Many people have talked about teacher burnout. Yes, it’s a real thing. Santoro explains that “… the word suggests a extinguished flame-that teachers use their own resources and have nothing to offer” (2018). Think about that for a moment. Some teachers have reached a point where they have nothing left to offer. Their mental health has deteriorated so much that they can no longer work.

They are left feeling tired, drained, and in need of self-care. With the increase in depression among teachers, there is a new perception that teachers are facing hardships. Demoralization involves the idea that teachers cannot perform well because of things beyond their control. For example, teachers are told to follow the script and teach the curriculum, but they know that one size does not fit all. They are left wondering what to do when they see the needs of their students, and they realize that the text does not include them. These feelings can lead to depression and anxiety. Depression and anxiety are no joke. These terms should not be used lightly, as they cover a lot. Both depression and anxiety can be debilitating.

We must take action. Our teachers are drowning, and we must send them a lifeline. No one should be left alone to deal with depression and anxiety. We are in this together.

Changes are needed Coping with Mental Health

Teach

In schools, teaching teachers how to deal with the pressures they face is important. If teachers start talking more about what they are going through, they will see that they are not alone. Sometimes, feeling like someone understands you can make all the difference. Having teachers learn strategies they can use can create a new narrative in schools. It’s a story where teachers come together to prioritize their mental well-being. According to this document, “Better Support for the Mental Health of Teachers,” Cannock (2025) explains that if we fill schools with practices that help teachers, we also develop better outcomes for students as their teachers feel more supported. We need to make this the norm instead of waiting until it’s too late.

Accept it

Too many people are made to feel like something is wrong with them when they show symptoms of depression and anxiety. We can’t make students feel bad about dealing with anxiety, but we don’t have the same standard for adults. We need to help people see that it is okay to be wrong. Instead of making people feel worthless, we must help them see that their distress is not explained away. We must show that we care and we must step in when needed.

Use Your Time Wisely

Teachers can benefit from creating a routine that helps them get from school to home. It can be something as simple as listening to music or writing (Cannock, 2025). Whatever brings you peace and happiness. Do something that helps your body relax. Even during the day, try to do something to help yourself. For example, between sessions, try walking around the building or going outside. Do something that helps you take your mind off work. Even if it’s just for a few minutes. Go visit your colleagues down the hall and talk about anything. I know this may seem simple, but for teachers, it is actually difficult. We are always on the go and trying to make the most of every single second. As hard as it may be, we need to remind ourselves to slow down and take time for our mental health.

The War Is Not Over

I think we can all agree when I say that teachers are special. Teachers do whatever they can to help their students because they care. The students sitting in front of us become our children. We don’t see them as just another person in our class. We are getting to know who they are. We teach them to speak for themselves and we support them in every way. If you ask me, we need to take our own advice. Mental health does not discriminate. It can affect everyone. We must start talking about the struggle facing teachers before it’s too late. We need to lead by example. Let’s talk about our anxiety and depression. Let’s come together and make a change. Let’s create a world where supporting teachers’ mental health is the new normal. Imagine a world where no teacher struggles alone. We deserve to thrive, not survive.