Teachers’ back-up phone-line reveals 10m years of stress

LEVELS of stress among teachers had reached critical levels, a shock report reveals today. There is more anxiety, stress and depression than most other occupations, according to the Teachers’ Support Network on its 10th anniversary of its 24-hour back up’ phoneline

By Mike Brooke

LEVELS of stress among teachers had reached critical levels, a shock report reveals today.

There is more anxiety, stress and depression than most other occupations, according to the Teachers' Support Network on its 10th anniversary today of its 24-hour 'back up' phoneline.

The report into 'teacher stress' has been launched at a House of Lords reception addressed by Schools Minister Vernon Coaker and hosted by the Schools' select committee chairman Barry Sherman.

The Network's chief executive Julian Stanley said: "We're using the expertise gained through contact with thousands of teachers every year to influence national and local policies to improve teachers' wellbeing and win the recognition they deserve for such a vital role in the lives of young people."

The back-up line provides support on a wide range of issues including stress, workload, conflict with parents, pupil behaviour and financial difficulty, with the support from the teacher unions, Government and local education authorities. Its online support has helped teachers more than 180,000 times in the last 12 months alone.