50 Resources to Support the Mental Health of Teachers and School Staff
Teachers are so woven into the fabric of our communities that, sometimes, it can be easy to take them for granted. Tending to the needs of children, parents and staff, K-12 teachers are forced to deal with limited support from their administrations, consistently changing curriculums and even dire health situations like a pandemic, creating stress and burnout. With everything they have to juggle, teachers can sometimes overlook their own self-care and mental health needs.
To support the mental health of teachers and school staff, Teach.com has researched and collected helpful apps recommended by support organizations for teachers, articles focusing on their mental wellbeing and other resources written, created and produced by educators or mental health experts, agencies and organizations for educators and school staff.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Mental Health Apps
Calm: meditation and relaxation app behind the Calm Schools Initiative which offers teachers access to exercises as well as an onboarding package (PDF, 98 KB) to introduce mindfulness.
Headspace: mindfulness app that has partnered with Teach for America (TFA) to be available for TFA corps members and alumni for free by registering with an @tfacorps.org email address.
Mental Health Support Groups and Organizations
Happy Teacher Revolution: network of teachers promoting wellness in their communities with online and virtual training and support group meetings.
NCTE Member Gathering, National Council of Teachers of English: weekly gathering of members to share ideas, build relationships and offer support to peers.
Teach for America Network Slack channel: virtual community of TFA members and alumni that encourages weekly check-ins.
Teaching With Mental Health in Mind: Facebook group providing mental health support for educators who come into daily contact with youth.
Mental Health Websites and Other Online Content
“10 Mental Health Tips for Teachers During the COVID-19 Pandemic,” EverFi: advice for work-life balance and remote teaching.
“15 Ways to Reduce Teacher Stress,” Scholastic: Tips to help teachers love what they do and enjoy their lives outside the classroom.
ASCD Express, Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD): newsletter with practical and actionable strategies to help teachers and school leaders with self-care and more.
CARE (Cultivating Awareness and Resilience in Education), Create for Education and the Garrison Institute: programs to help teachers, principals and other educators develop healthy social and emotional behavior.
Care for the Caregiver: Guidelines for Administrators and Crisis Teams, National Association of School Psychologists: risks and stressors, warning signs and strategies for self-care for school staff.
“COVID-19 Employee Mental Health Support Audit and Resource Guide,” EAB (PDF, 337 KB): guide for evaluating a school’s capability to support the mental health of teachers and staff.
“Don’t Lose Your Head,” NEA Today: tips to help teachers keep burnout at bay and maintain grace under pressure inside and outside the classroom.
Educating Through Crisis, National Education Association: guide for physical and mental wellness with webinars, financial information and tips to set up a home gym.
The Educator’s Room: articles and advice dedicated to improving education and using the wisdom and experience of classroom teachers, with information on the annual Teacher Self-Care Conference.
“Educators: You Have Permission to Take Care of Yourselves, Right Now,” Mindful Schools: tips for teachers on how to show themselves compassion and self-care with guided practices to relieve stress.
“How to Teach and Still Have a Life This School Year,” Scholastic: tips, strategies and encouragement for teachers to set boundaries and stay motivated.
Life and Well-being, We Are Teachers: curated topics page of videos, articles and tools focused on reinvigorating and inspiring teachers to live more healthfully.
My Well-being, Greater Good in Education: strategies and practices for the adults who work with students to help encourage positive school cultures.
Personal Assessment and Reflection Tool, Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) (PDF, 362 KB): self-evaluation tool for school leaders, staff and other adults to assess personal strengths in social and emotional learning.
“Prioritizing Well-being: Mental Health Strategies for Teachers and Students,” EverFi: webinar exploring activities, strategies, tips and tricks to help with mental well-being.
Resilient Educator: articles for educators with content ranging from self-care to teaching tips and professional development.
“Self-Care for Educators Working From Home,” California Teachers Association (PDF, 1.5 MB): activities and strategies for educators to stay connected and healthy while working remotely.
Self-Care Resources, Mindful Teachers: tips, reflections, mindfulness practices and more to help with common challenges educators face.
Share My Lesson, American Federation of Teachers: articles, lesson plan guides and other content to provide teachers high-quality material for their students.
SMART (Stress Management and Relaxation Techniques) in Education, PassageWorks: program with virtual workshops delivered over eight weeks to reduce stress and improve mental well-being.
Teacher Well-being, The Guardian Network: curated stories focused on supporting educators.
Teacher Wellness, Edutopia: articles, videos and other helpful content about self-care.
For Educators, Understood.org: articles, tools and resources to help educators navigate different situations.
“What About You? Educator Resilience and Trauma-Informed Self-Care,” Center on Great Teachers and Leaders: video webinar on how educators can take care of themselves and their families while maintaining connections to students and colleagues during a crisis.
“Why Teacher Self-Care Matters and How to Practice Self-Care in Your School,” Waterford.org: activities and tips for teachers to use inside and outside the classroom.
“World Mental Health Day: 5 Tips for Teacher Well-being,” Teach Starter: advice on how to de-stress, maintain physical health and strive for better work-life balance.
Books on Mental Health
“Moment for Teachers: Self-Care for Busy Teachers – 101 Free Ways for Teachers to Become More Inspired, Peaceful, and Confident in 30 Seconds,” Alice Langholt: tasks and activities for teachers to do alone or with students.
“The Beginning Teacher’s Field Guide: Embarking on Your First Years,” Tina H. Boogren: advice, empathy and support with a description of phases of every teacher’s first year.
“First Aid for Teacher Burnout: How You Can Find Peace and Success,” Jenny Grant Rankin: examination of common causes of teacher burnout with strategies to cope with them.
“The Happy Teacher’s Handbook: From Overwhelmed to Inspired – Helping Teachers Embrace Resiliency,” Jen Molitor: tips, tools and inspirational stories to help teachers handle their responsibilities and improve their time management skills.
“Onward: Cultivating Emotional Resilience in Educators,” Elena Aguilar: framework for teachers to build resilience based on habits, understand their motivation and tap the energy within to bounce back.
“Overcoming Teacher Burnout in Early Childhood: Strategies for Change,” Ellen M. Drolette: examination of why early childhood professionals have a high turnover rate and how to motivate and inspire them to use self-reflection and group work to recharge and strategize.
“Positive Mindset Habits for Teachers: 10 Steps to Reduce Stress, Increase Student Engagement and Reignite Your Passion for Teaching,” Grace Stevens: roadmap to reduce stress and raise satisfaction in the classroom.
“See Me After Class: Advice for Teachers by Teachers,” Roxanna Elden: anecdotes, tips and strategies from experienced teachers to help those new to the field.
“Stress Management for Teachers: A Practical Guide,” Keith C. Herman and Wendy M. Reinke: collection of coping and problem-solving skills and tools with individual and group exercises.
“Take Time for You: Self-Care Action Plans for Educators,” Tina H. Boogren: guide to developing a self-care plan based on Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.
“Today I Made a Difference: A Collection of Inspirational Stories from America’s Top Educators,” Joseph W. Underwood: celebration of teachers’ work and motivational stories of educators who overcame obstacles.
Mental Health Podcasts
The Cult of Pedagogy: series that focuses on educators, students, administrators and parents sharing insight and advice with veteran educator Jennifer Gonzalez.
HMH Learning Moments: series from educational content publisher Houghton Mifflin Harcourt that highlights teachers who share their stories, ideas and innovations to help others.
Passing Notes: experts offering practical advice with host Stephanie Hinton, the early childhood eEducation coordinator for Oklahoma City Public Schools.
Teach Me, Teacher: podcast with teachers sharing experiences to help their peers and offering their perspectives on teacher development with host and middle school teacher Jacob Chastain.
Teachers’ Aid: episodes focus on social and emotional support for teachers with discussions led by hosts and educators Jon Harper and Mandy Froehlich.
The Teacher Self-Care Podcast: series features teachers and administrators sharing what self-care looks like for them with host Franchesca Warren, founder of The Educator’s Room.
Truth for Teachers: episodes on subjects such as flexible resilience, dealing with personality differences and work-life balance from veteran educator Angela Watson.
This article was posted September 2020.