Overview:
As teacher burnout, depression, and demoralization reach crisis levels, schools must prioritize educator mental health through systemic support, open conversations, and practical wellness strategies so teachers can thrive—and, in turn, better support their students.
Get to work, start the to-do list. Play beat the clock as you scurry to get everything done before the clock strikes and the hallways become full of students. Every teacher knows this feeling all too well. There are days when all of a sudden it’s the end of the day, and you realize your coffee never got finished, you crossed off 2 things from your list, but somehow added 5 more. Now more than ever, teachers need to make sure they stop and prioritize their mental health. Our classrooms are only as good as we are.
Yes, we are teachers, but first we are people.
Mental Health Crisis
Teachers are struggling now more than ever to protect their mental health. According to a Comprehensive Center Network article, a survey was done on “1,479 teachers nationwide, 59% of respondents reported frequent job-related stress, 60% reported burnout, 22% reported difficulty coping, and 19% reported symptoms of depression” (Matlach & Denton). A teacher’s mood can make or break the day. Students can sense how we feel, whether we want them to or not. Studies have found that the number of teachers reporting symptoms of depression is doubled that of other professions (Cannock, 2025).
These statistics are jaw-dropping.
According to the article “What’s Causing Teacher Burnout,” author Tim Walker emphasizes that 78% of teachers have considered quitting teaching. This is a number that we can no longer ignore. Teachers are superheroes. They make 1,000 decisions a day, manage their classrooms, teach lessons, manage behavior, and are always ready for anything. When asked to do more, they do it. They do whatever they have to for their students. They show up every day and give their students their all. They know that students need good teachers. So, now that teachers are the ones who need help, we must step in. We can’t just hope this problem goes away on its own.
Let’s think about it. If a student were struggling, would we leave them to struggle alone? No.
If a student was depressed, would we pretend we didn’t notice? No.
So then, let’s do something to end this crisis.
Why is Mental Health Struggling?
You may be asking yourself, what happened? How did things change so quickly? Why are the people who are educating the future of our country struggling? Why are the people who have the future of the world in their hands depressed? Why are teachers surviving and not thriving?
Many people have talked about teacher burnout. Yes, it is a real thing. Santoro explains that the “…word suggests a flame extinguished—that teachers have exhausted their personal resources and have nothing left to offer” (2018). Think about that for a moment. Some teachers have got to the point where they have nothing left to give. Their mental health has declined so much that they can no longer function.
They are left feeling exhausted, depleted, and in need of self-care. As the rise of depression among teachers has increased, there is a new idea that teachers are facing demoralization. Demoralization encompasses the idea that teachers can’t do well because of factors they can’t control. For example, teachers are told to follow the script and teach a curriculum, but they know that one size does not fit all. They are left wondering what to do when they see the needs of their students, and they realize the script doesn’t include them. These feelings can lead to depression and anxiety. Depression and anxiety are no joke. These words should not be used lightly, as they encompass a lot. Both depression and anxiety can become debilitating.
We must take action. Our teachers are drowning, and we must send them a lifeline. No one should ever be left to deal with depression and anxiety alone. We are in this together.
Changes Needed to Address Mental Health
Become Educated
In schools, educating teachers on ways to deal with the stressors they face is crucial. If teachers start to talk more about what they face, they would see they are not alone. Sometimes, feeling like someone understands you can make all the difference. Having teachers learn techniques they can use can create a new narrative in schools. A narrative where teachers come together to prioritize their mental well-being. According to the article, “Better Support for Teachers’ Mental Health,” Cannock (2025) explains that if we fill schools with practices that help teachers, in return, we are promoting better outcomes for students as their educators feel more supported. We need to make this a new normal instead of waiting until it’s too late.
Acknowledge It
Too many people are meant to feel like something is wrong with them when they express symptoms of depression and anxiety. We would never make students feel bad for dealing with anxiety, yet we don’t hold the same standard for adults. We need to help people see that it’s okay to not be okay. Instead of making people feel worthless, we must help them to see that they are not defined by their depression. We must show that we care and we must step in when needed.
Use Your Time Wisely
Teachers can benefit from creating a routine that helps them transition from school to home. It can be something as simple as listening to music or journaling (Cannock, 2025). Anything that brings you peace and joy. Do something that helps your body to relax. Even during the day, try to do something to help yourself. For example, in between periods, try to go for a walk around the building or go outside. Do something that helps you take your mind off work. Even if only for a few minutes. Go visit a colleague down the hall and talk about anything. I know this may seem simple, but for teachers, it’s actually difficult. We are always on the go and trying to make the most of every single second. Although it may be hard, we need to remind ourselves to slow down and make time for our mental health.
The Fight is Not Over
I think we can all agree when I say that teachers are special. Teachers do whatever they can to help their students because they care. The students sitting in front of us become our children. We don’t see them as just another person in our classroom. We get to know them for who they are. We teach them to advocate for themselves and we support them every step of the way. If you ask me, we need to take our own advice. Mental health does not discriminate. It can affect everyone. We must start to talk about the struggles teachers are facing, before it’s too late. We need to lead by example. Let’s talk about our anxiety and depression. Let’s come together to make a change. Let’s create a world where supporting the mental health of teachers is the new normal. Think about a world where no teacher is struggling alone. We deserve to thrive not survive.
Works Cited
Cannock, Gilliane Fort. “Better Support for Teachers’ Mental Health.” Elite
DNA Behavioral Health, EliteDNA Behavioral Health, 1 Aug. 2025, elitedna.com/better-support-for-teachers-mental-health/.
Matlach, Lauren & Pam Denton. “Supporting Teacher Mental Health.”
Comprehensive Center Network.
Santoro, Doris A. “Is It Burnout? Or Demoralization?” ASCD, 1 June 2018, www.ascd.org/el/articles/is-it-burnout-or-demoralization.
