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.

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”

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.

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Educator, Teaching, Program, BC, $ Fee, English, HPW Toolkit Ryann Russ Educator, Teaching, Program, BC, $ Fee, English, HPW Toolkit Ryann Russ

Well Teacher Group

This is a six week program with a holistic approach to wellness to help teachers make lifestyle changes that will positively affect their physical, mental, and emotional well-being. It involves a 12 hour group workshop with six, two hour long sessions led by qualified occupational therapists or trained consultants in mental health.

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The Well Teacher

The Well Teacher book provides teachers in the K-12 system with tips, tools, and information on how to improve personal well-being and address teacher wellness barriers. (This resource was given by the Ontario Teachers’ Federation to teachers who attended the 2022 OTF/Affiliate Symposium on mental health).

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Mindfulness Everyday

SmartEDUCATION (Stress Management and Resiliency Techniques) is an evidence-based, trauma sensitive and EDI aware program designed to address the needs to educators. The 20 hour program is delivered in a workshop setting, consists of 8 x two hour sessions, a 4 hour silent retreat and includes home practice.

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Educator, Teaching, Program, BC, NWT, ON, QC, $ Fee, English, HPW Toolkit Ryann Russ Educator, Teaching, Program, BC, NWT, ON, QC, $ Fee, English, HPW Toolkit Ryann Russ

Starling Minds

Starling Minds is a digital mental health platform that reduces absence and disability costs by delivering immediate, unlimited, and personalized digital Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). The Ontario Insurance Plan (OTIP) selected Starling Minds to deliver personalized mental health programs for more than 160,000 Ontario-based educators.

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The Regulated Classroom

The Regulated Classroom is a new somatosensory and Polyvagal-informed approach to cultivating conditions for felt safety in the classroom. It is a collection of practices and tools for educators to embed into daily routines and activities in order to promote a more consistently regulated and stable environment for learning.

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Cultivating Awareness and Resilience in Education

CARE is a unique professional development program that helps teacher handle their stress and rediscover the joys of teaching. They offer a four day retreat at the Garrison Institute (NYC), a series of weekend sessions or a three day model with follow-up.

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Educator, Teaching, Program, Policy, ON, Free, HPW Toolkit, Bilingual Ryann Russ Educator, Teaching, Program, Policy, ON, Free, HPW Toolkit, Bilingual Ryann Russ

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.

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English, Educator, Teaching, Program, Policy, ON, Free, HPW Toolkit Ryann Russ English, Educator, Teaching, Program, Policy, ON, Free, HPW Toolkit Ryann Russ

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.

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Systemic Support for Teacher Mental Health

This podcast addresses the long standing and often overlooked state of teacher mental health in the U.S. Guest speaker Dr. Kris Scardamalia, associate professor from the National Center for School Mental Health at the University of Maryland shares her thoughts.

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The Podclass: Conversations on School Health

The podcast features Positive Teacher Well-Being with Dana Fulwiler. The Podclass is an educational podcast developed by Ever Active Schools. The first series is a collaboration with the Werkland School of Education that looks at maximizing the health and well-being of students and teachers.

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