Preventing teacher burnout: mental health and workplace well being

Contributing factors to teacher well-being and burnout

Better teacher well-being has a systemic effect. It is shown to be associated with better pupil well-being, an enriched learning environment and better learning outcomes.

Well-being relates to various aspects of the teaching profession: workload, working environments and conditions, physical safety, peer and institutional support and school communities. If these are negative, teachers may become less motivated and, in the worst cases, experience burnout.

In general, education workers often face complex psychosocial factors in their working environments, which may cause work-related stress. These include behavioural issues, bullying, overburdened classrooms, addressing parental concerns and pressure for results.

Building blocks of teacher well-being

A 2021 Eurydice report found that almost half of teachers experience high levels of stress in their work, particularly in classrooms that they consider disruptive or if they lack confidence in managing and motivating pupils. Nevertheless, they experience lower stress levels when they feel that their school environment is collaborative and that they have professional autonomy and adequate training. These elements related to school culture can be fostered through a whole-school approach. 

Teachers can nurture their own well-being by developing social and resilience competencies, applying stress management strategies, setting boundaries and fostering collaborative relationships with colleagues.

Europe-wide interventions

At EU level, Pathways to School Success is the main initiative to promote the well-being of learners and educators. Its policy recommendations include:

• adequate working conditions, professional autonomy and active involvement in school management;
• support and mental health professionals and services;
• collaboration and peer support.

The European Commission’s Expert Group on promoting well-being at school also develops policy and guidelines for pupils, teachers and educational workers.