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Teacher burnout is a euphemism for work induced depression .
‘ Reignite the fire ’
New ACU course to address teacher mental health crisis .
By Eleanor Campbell
As teachers make their long-awaited return to the classrooms , high rates of anxiety and depression have led experts to develop a new course to help curb burnout and early retirement .
This year , the Australian Catholic University ( ACU ) will offer a graduate certificate in mental health for teachers and educators .
The online course has been designed to arm educators with the skills they need to navigate the most stressful aspects of their jobs .
“ We ’ ve reached a tipping point here in Australia ,” said ACU education lecturer Dr Debra Phillips .
“ We have teachers with poor sleep patterns , insomnia , high stress levels and those teachers who have had levels of mental illhealth beforehand have become intensified .”
Nearly half of Australia ’ s teachers have plans to retire , according to the latest Australian Teacher Workforce Data .
Stress and burnout are the most common issues driving teachers out of their jobs , with 68 per cent reporting that their work has an impact on their mental health .
Coupled with the demands brought on by remote learning and COVID-19 , the education industry is sitting on the tail end of a workforce crisis , said Phillips .
“ Studies done prior to the pandemic have shown that more than 50 per cent of teachers experience high levels of anxiety , with 20 per cent being clinically depressed and 17 per cent screening positive for alcohol abuse ,” she said .
“ Teacher burnout is , as one author has said , a euphemism for work induced depression .
“ As long as we keep referring to it as burnout schools and school systems are not addressing the issue of mental health .”
Many educators are reluctant to speak out about their own mental wellbeing in fear of being judged or losing opportunities for promotion , said Phillips .
“ Most teachers will never , ever disclose to anyone that they are experiencing depression or anxiety ,” said Phillips .
“ They have now reached the point of what I term as ‘ discomfort saturation ’.
“ Teachers are no longer able to cope with the uncomfortability to trying to both manage their own mental health and the health of their students , with very little support from their community or schooling systems .”
To help “ reignite the fire ”, Phillips said those who partake in the course will be moved to consider why they chose teaching in the first place .
Relationships with coworkers will also be a core area of focus .
The certificate , which has four units , could benefit classroom-based teachers , school counsellors , youth workers , executives and preschool educators .
“ We knew that there was nothing or very limited post-graduate material for teachers about mental health ,” said Philips .
“ The course itself is built on what we know , which is that the most prevalent and the most sustaining and the most strengthening and protective factor is their own social network .
“ The course is not about counselling , it ’ s not about working with students , it is for teachers to be able to understand their own selves and to work with other teachers to build and strengthen collegial relationships within the schools .” ■
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