Education Worker Toolkit
Like all Canadians, education workers and teachers experience mental health challenges. As part of a larger study of Canadian professional workers, 1146 education workers completed a survey to explore their experiences with mental health, leaves of absence, and return to work between November 2020 and May 2021.
Click below for the education report
A high number of education workers in our study, over 50%, reported having had a mental health issue at some point during their careers, with female teachers reporting high rates.
53 education workers were interviewed about their experiences. Themes such as increased workload, digital stress, the impact of leadership, social isolation and feeling disconnected were mentioned most often.
Our research team utilized survey data and interview stories to curate a list of resources to help improve education worker mental health with a focus on system, organization and team level resources.
Please watch our introductory video to help guide you through the resource options available.
This app aims to help teachers take care of themselves and feel stronger when it comes to navigating mental health. This can be achieved through community and providing services to connect, heal, and learn.
Well at Work provides magazine articles, blogs and more about healthy workplaces in K-12 education.
What Interviewee’s are Saying:
“Nobody quits a job. They Quit a Manager”
“My interactions with health and wellness have left me feeling frustrated and feeling like I’m a number and not a person”
Restructure the School Year
The four-day school week has received mixed reviews in the literature. “A shortened workweek is not a ‘magic pill’ to solve the problem. If we don’t improve working conditions and compensate educators properly, the length of the workweek will not matter.” Barnes, 2022
Recharge Room
A recharge room is a quiet space for teachers to relax featuring amenities like massage and lounge chairs, treadmills, hammocks, and yoga equipment.
Subtract Duties from Teaching
This article outlines the power of taking something away as opposed to continually adding to work responsibilities/expectations. What could we subtract from the school day that would improve teacher mental health/wellbeing?
Teacher Driven Professional Development (PD) Days
Teachers want to be heard and have choice/time to engage in professional development opportunities that will benefit their mental health/wellbeing. This will look and sound differently across school boards/districts depending on educator needs.
Sex and Gender Based Analysis Workplace Discrimination and Bias Toolkit
The SGBA Workplace Discrimination Bias Toolkit provides common definitions and language along with promising practices to help address workplace discrimination.
Sex and Gender Based Analysis Harassment and Bullying Toolkit
The SGBA harrassment and bullying toolkit provides common definitions and language, describes the impact of bullying and harassment on mental health and outlines promising practices to address bullying and harassment.
Workplace Strategies for Mental Health
Accommodation strategies for employees with mental health issues who are at work or returning to work.
Addressing Racism in the K-12 Workplace
This article discusses how anti-racism is integral to staff well-being. School districts should feature acknowledgement, community partnership and leadership, accountability, disaggregated race-based data collection, transparent monitoring and reporting along with policy development and implementation.
Focus on Administrator Wellbeing
This article challenges readers to rethink administrative work that does not have student learning at its core. Workload volume is the highest source of stress, so action to reduce and change this is urgently needed.
Administrator Sabbatical
Principals can apply for a 10 week paid leave to undertake professional learning, reflection and rejuvenation. The purpose is to improve overall retention rates of experienced, effective principals and enhance their enthusiasm for school leadership.
Mentor Teacher
This article highlights research that explores the role that mentoring and coaching practices play in helping educational professionals attune to the importance of maintaining their own well-being and fostering well-being among those they work with.
Well at Work K-12 Leadership Course
This course with modules delivered by Canadian school district leaders and subject matter experts, this course prepares education leaders to undertake a systemic approach aimed at sustainably improving employee wellbeing which contributes to a more positive school environment for students.
Mental Health in Action for School Leaders
This course is designed to provide school leaders with basic knowledge and information related to mental health, strategies to enhance student mental health, and everyday practices that can be used in the school and classroom.
LEARN Mental Health
This online modular resource for educators can be used as a self-guided course or in individual modules by those wishing to develop their mental health literacy.
Teachers of Tomorrow Project
This iniative proposes an upstream approach to addressing student well-being though the issue of teacher preparedness. Key areas of focus include the physical environments of faculty, implementing healthy school policies and teacher and learning strategies. Knowledge exchange can be found at cshhub.com
Professional Induction Program for New Teachers (PIPNPE)
NTIP is the second job-embedded step along a continuum of professional learning for new teachers, building on and complementing initial teacher education programs. It provides professional support to help new teachers develop the requiste skills and knowledge to be effective teachers in Ontario.
New Teacher Induction Program (NTIP)
NTIP is the second job-embedded step along a continuum of professional learning for new teachers, building on and complementing initial teacher education programs. It provides professional support to help new teachers develop the requiste skills and knowledge to be effective teachers in Ontario.
Feeling Better Now
Feeling Better Now is a mental technology that offers timely, evidence-based, information to Canadians so they can gain agency in their mental health journey. Ontario Teachers Insurance Plan members have access to this resource.
Here to Help
Screening self-tests are tools that help you look at your mental health or wellness. These tests look for signs or symptoms that can show up in some mental illnesses. They can also help you look at patterns of feelings or patterns of substance use.
BounceBack
BounceBack is a free skill-building program managed by the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA). It is designed to help adults manage low mood, mild to moderate depression and anxiety, stress or worry.
The Working Mind
Brought to you by the Mental Health Commission of Canada, The Working Mind is an evidence-based program designed to promote mental health and reduce the stigma around mental illness in the workplace.
Mind Beacon
MindBeacon is changing mental health care by making support available to every Canadian. Services include guided CBT programs, video or phone sessions with a therapist and in-person therapy appointments.
Elephant in the Room Anti-Stigma Campaign
Elephant in the Room is a national anti-stigma campaign designed to eliminate the stigma associated with mental illess. When you display your blue elephant, you show that you care about the wellness of others and demonstrate that this is a safe place to talk about mental illness, without fear of being viewed differently.
Heartcare Planning for Educational Workers
Heartcare Planning emerged as a key finding from the Compassion Fatigue, Burnout, and Emotional Labour in Educational Workers research study. Create a HEARTcare plan to figure out how you respond to occupational stress and distress, ways to identify crisis and trauma work, and investigate available interventions to restore or maintain your emotional and mental health.
Change Works Interactive
Kevin Waldbillig is a Registered Psychotherapist and former educator who understands the challenges teachers face. He provides personal counselling and psychotherapy for those seeking treatment for stress management, depression, anxiety grief and much more. Continuous professional development and lifelong learning are foundational elements of his journey.
This Toolkit explores how to implement the Canadian Healthy School Standards, with a specific focus on the actions needed at a school system leadership level. It provides a pathway to follow in the form of six interconnected checklists, along with connections to additional resources.