After seven hours of teaching students, straining their voice, and having a good attitude, teachers get exhausted. As much as they just want to go home and rest, they stay at school overtime grading their student’s work, and getting tasks done in the classroom. They get home all worn out, realizing they still have things to do at home. Managing their home life and work life can be difficult. Teaching professions are not only physically exhausting, but mentally exhausting as well, which should be talked about more.
Students' mental health is discussed a lot, and though it is an important topic, acknowledgment of teacher's mental health is pushed aside. Teachers’ hard work and effort is unfortunately often disclaimed. They work extremely hard on the daily, educating hundreds of students, grading stacks of paperwork, tutoring and supporting students, and being trustworthy.
Liberty High School’s AP Psychology teacher, Gina Capelli explains, “Teachers are expected to be mentors, counselors, mental health specialists, cheerleaders, and custodians, as well as teaching content. It can be overwhelming when there are constant complaints which are not balanced by much appreciation.”
Assuredly, it is clear that teachers hold a lot of responsibilities, and a good reputation is needed for them. The significance of being a teacher is not just teaching another person something, it is being able to make a positive impact on students' lives and prepare them for the future with endless support and faith in them. They have the ability to lead students to have successful educations and help future generations. As easy as it may sound to some, holding this level of power can become overwhelming and stressful for teachers.
Geometry Teacher at LHS, Laura Weise, points out, “The world asks a lot of teachers. Filling the expectations others have on us and expectations I put on myself might be one of the hardest parts of being a teacher. Boundaries must be set since I still have a personal life at home.”
Undoubtedly, being a teacher causes excessive stress. As Mrs. Capelli explains, a big stress factor for teachers is the lack of respect and appreciation they receive from students, families and society. Their student’s behavior and attitude, becomes intense over time. Having to deal with uncooperative students and mistreatment is frustrating to many, since their main goal is to educate and help their students have a successful future. Additionally, workload is another big stress factor. Teachers are trapped with loads of paperwork every day. Grading the papers of hundreds of students that turn them in takes time and get piled up as new assignments get created. Rushing teachers to grade assignments and to update grades adds to their stress.
According to the "Teacher’s Stress and Health" article, a national survey shows “46 percent of teachers report high daily stress during the school year. This is the highest rate of daily stress among all occupational groups, tied with nurses, also at 46 percent, and higher than physicians, at 45 percent.”
Moreover, teachers having more stress than healthcare workers reveal how important their job is. Teachers are looked up to, are expected to make quick decisions and be flexible according to how their day goes. All this stress can trigger anxiety for most teachers, as well as feeling overwhelmed. It is important for teachers to be able manage their stress, so it doesn’t intensify their mental health. Their mental health can get in the way of their job performance and affect their student's education as well. When a teacher misses a day of school due to mental illness, students don’t receive direct and clear instructions of the lessons, contrary to when the teacher is mentally and physically present.
Chronic stress among teachers is linked to decreases in teacher motivation and engagement, both of which lead to burnout. According to, Marc Brackett and Christina Cipriano, it is stated that “Emotions like anxiety and fear, especially when prolonged, disrupt concentration and interfere with thinking. Chronic stress among teachers is linked to decreases in teachers’ motivation and engagement, both of which lead to burnout.” In other words, teaching professions get so overwhelming to the point that it unfortunately leads to some teachers wanting to quit.
Teachers’ mental health is often overlooked, but can impact students in many ways. Mrs. Weise emphasized, "It is necessary to understand that teachers are people too."
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Cover photo taken by Keisy Reyes
Keisy Reyes is a staff writer for The Lion's Roar. You can learn more information about the writer by clicking here.
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