The number of teachers who drink to relieve work stress has been named: “They are losing their health and sanity”

Desperate British teachers are forced to solve school problems with alcohol

A UK survey found that almost a quarter of teachers drink alcohol to cope with work-related stress. The teachers’ union is calling for suicide prevention training for all school leaders to tell teachers what they are doing to get through the day.

Nearly nine in 10 British teachers believe their work has had a negative impact on their mental health in the past 12 months, according to a survey, Sky News reports.

The survey, carried out among 11,574 members of the teaching union NASUWT, found that almost a quarter of teachers drank alcohol to cope with stress and 12% used antidepressants.

About 3% said the stress of their work had led them to self-harm.

One teacher who took part in the survey said he felt sick before work and cried at school because of “misbehaving students” that prevented him from teaching class.

Another teacher says: “My energy levels have never been this low before. I have never felt so anxious and very unsure of myself. I feel like most of the time at work I have my mouth full of worries and that I might not be able to deal with difficult students as well as usual.”

The British Teachers’ Union has warned of “an increase in suicides, suicide attempts and suicidal ideation” among the profession, calling for a debate on the topic at its national conference this weekend.

The proposal calls for suicide prevention training in Britain for school leaders and fully funded compulsory mental health training in schools and colleges.

Patrick Roach, general secretary of the NASUWT, said: “No one should be put on the brink of suicide because of their job. We need a two-pronged approach to tackling the epidemic of mental health problems among teachers, while also addressing the factors that cause work-related stress.” and creates more effective support systems for teachers and school leaders.”

He also said teachers needed better social support, adding: “The status quo is not the answer. Too many teachers are losing their health and others are leaving the profession in an attempt to save their sanity. There is no obvious reason why teachers should have “There is such a high level of burnout. Things can and should be different and we need the next government to work with us to make teaching a profession where teachers can thrive rather than just struggle to survive.”

It follows the suicide of headteacher Ruth Perry, who took her own life after an Ofsted report downgraded her school, Caversham Primary School in Reading, from the highest to the lowest rating due to safety concerns, Sky News recalls.

A UK Department for Education spokesman said: “We recognize the exceptional work that headteachers, teachers and other staff do and we take their wellbeing very seriously. Our Teaching Wellbeing Charter ensures that staff wellbeing policies are integrated into the school culture.” along with expanding our £2m investment to provide professional supervision and advice to school and college leaders.”