Teacher Mental Health

My Blog

• Stress and mental conditions excluded from teachers' insurance cover?

(18th March 2012)

• Are UK teachers more likely to commit suicide than those in other countries?

(1st March 2012)

• The Tragic Consequences of Teacher Stress

(25th February 2012)

• Teacher Suicide Rates

        (15th July 2011)

• Meeting Rochdale Teachers

(17th March 2011)

• When work-stress leads to illness

(9th March 2011)

• Suffolk teachers take almost 10,000 days off with stress

(2nd March 2011)

• Clear roles, good relationships and appropriate support, will reduce stress levels.

(1st March 2011)

• In the journey of a teacher, change is a constant travel companion.

(28th February 2011)

• Rising demands and shrinking control drives teacher stress

(17th February 2011)

• Why are so many teachers made ill by their work?

(15th February 2011)

15th July 2011

Teacher Suicide Rates

Although mental health conditions are rarely fatal, there is a small but significant number of teachers who take their own lives each year.  Worryingly, coroner’s reports following suicides often identify work-related factors, such as OFSTED, as contributing to the suicide.  

I have been able to obtain teacher suicide figures for the years between 2001 and 2009 from the Office for National Statistics which give some indication of trends. The figures from ONS can be found here

As can be seen, the figures fluctuate and it is hard to judge how much significance should be attached to the increase from 2008 to 2009 (86%). However, the figures do suggest a general upward trend in teacher suicides over the 9 year period.  When the figures for 2010 become available, it may be possible to make a better judgement about how serious this growth has become.

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