Mental health in teaching: A decade of change and why it matters now

Over the past decade, the conversation around mental health in the UK teaching profession has undergone a profound transformation.

What was once a taboo topic is now recognised as a critical factor in teacher recruitment, retention, and overall school success. Between 2015 and 2025, growing awareness of teacher wellbeing has reshaped educational policy and practice.

A changing conversation

Ten years ago, mental health in schools was largely centred around pupils. While there were growing efforts to support young people’s wellbeing, far less attention was paid to the emotional toll of teaching itself. In 2015, conversations about teacher mental health were few and far between – despite rising workloads, accountability pressures, and increasing attrition rates.

That has now changed. Between 2015 and 2025, mental health and wellbeing have moved from the margins to the mainstream in education policy and practice. The wellbeing of staff is no longer seen as a ‘nice to have’ – it’s now widely recognised as essential to building and maintaining a sustainable workforce.

The impact of the pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic played a significant role in accelerating this shift. During the crisis, teachers faced extraordinary demands – adapting to remote learning, supporting vulnerable pupils, and managing their own personal circumstances under immense pressure. By 2022, the Teacher Wellbeing Index reported that 78% of education staff were stressed, with 36% experiencing burnout and 50% suffering from insomnia. These figures were higher than those in the general population, highlighting the unsustainable demands placed on educators.

Progress in policy and practice

In response, schools, trusts, and policymakers have taken notable steps forward. In recent years, the Department for Education has introduced a range of measures designed to improve staff wellbeing. These include targeted mental health funding for school leaders, new anti-bullying guidance for staff, and the launch of the Education Staff Wellbeing Charter, which over 3,000 schools had signed up to by 2024.

Workload reduction has also been a focus. A government taskforce set out plans to cut an average of five hours per week from teachers’ working hours over three years, recognising that excessive workload continues to be one of the biggest contributors to poor mental health and staff attrition.

More schools are also trialling flexible working arrangements, including nine-day fortnights and protected time for planning and assessment – small but meaningful steps toward a more manageable work-life balance.

The link with teacher recruitment and retention

Perhaps the strongest argument for prioritising mental health in education is its impact on recruitment and retention. A 2024 survey by Teach First found that 84% of teachers were spending increased time supporting pupils’ mental health, adding significantly to their workloads. At the same time, 86% cited workload and emotional strain as major barriers to remaining in the profession.

The connection is clear: when teachers are overworked and under-supported, they are more likely to leave. Conversely, schools that prioritise wellbeing are more likely to attract and keep skilled, motivated professionals.

This has implications not just for individual schools, but for the entire education system. Addressing mental health isn’t just about individual resilience—it’s about creating the conditions in which teachers can thrive and deliver the best outcomes for pupils.

Our commitment to mental health and wellbeing

As a teacher training provider, we take trainee wellbeing seriously and embed it throughout our training programme. Alongside access to experienced mentors and tailored guidance, we provide two dedicated study days where trainees can work from home – designed to offer breathing space during a demanding year. We also have trained Mental Health First Aiders available for support, and all trainees can access the Wisdom app, which offers confidential counselling services and wellbeing resources through our Employee Assistance Programme.

Our residential training events also play a key role in promoting wellbeing, offering both professional development and time to connect and reflect. Looking ahead, we’re introducing regular online wellbeing check-ins across all our cohorts from next year, to ensure every trainee feels seen, supported, and valued throughout their journey.

A note from Chantelle Nicholls, Hub Leader and Wellbeing Lead

“I am deeply passionate about supporting teachers’ mental health because, as a teacher of 20 years, I have seen how essential their well-being is to the success of their pupils. Teaching is one of the most rewarding professions, but it is also a very demanding profession. My experience of this has led to my passion to ensure that we, as teacher trainers, have an ongoing working commitment to mental health to support teachers in the earliest stage of their careers,”

“At Inspiring Leaders, we have a commitment to ensure that our trainee teachers feel supported, valued and heard, and we continue to strive to create an environment where our trainees can thrive, which will ultimately have a positive impact on the lives of many children for years to come.”