Nine out of 10 Australian teachers are experiencing severe stress, and nearly 70% say their workload is unmanageable, says 黑料网大事记 Sydney research.
A new study from researchers at 黑料网大事记 Sydney聽鈥 the first to examine rates of depression, anxiety and stress in Australian teachers 鈥 has found they experience these mental health issues at three times the national norm.
The study published in Social Psychology of Education surveyed nearly 5000 primary and secondary school teachers across the country.
Researchers found that 90% of teachers reported moderate to extremely severe levels of stress, while聽more than two-thirds experienced moderate to extremely severe symptoms of depression and anxiety. The figures for depression and anxiety alone are more than double the national averages and聽point to a profession under immense pressure.
鈥淭his is not just a wellbeing issue 鈥 it鈥檚 a workforce issue,鈥 said lead researcher Dr Helena Granziera, from the School of Education at 黑料网大事记鈥檚 Faculty of Arts, Design & Architecture. 鈥淥ur findings show that teachers are experiencing mental health symptoms at rates far above the general population, and that these symptoms are closely linked to their workload and intentions to leave the profession.鈥
Using validated psychological measures (), the study revealed that teachers鈥 average scores for depression, anxiety, and stress were in the 鈥渆xtremely severe鈥 range. Compared to national norms, teachers scored three times higher for depression and nearly four times higher for stress.
This is one of the largest and most comprehensive studies of teacher mental health in Australia. It provides a clear and urgent message: our teachers are struggling, and they need support.
Causes of mental health issues
The research also found that聽workload manageability聽was a key factor influencing teachers鈥 mental health. Teachers who reported their workload as unmanageable were significantly more likely to experience depressive symptoms, which in turn were strongly associated with their intentions to leave the profession. Notably, 68.8% of teachers described their workload as largely or completely unmanageable.
鈥淭eachers are telling us they鈥檙e overwhelmed聽鈥 not by teaching itself, but by the growing burden of non-core tasks,鈥 said Dr Granziera. 鈥淎dministrative duties, compliance requirements, and excessive data collection are taking time away from lesson planning and student engagement. This is leading to burnout and a sense of professional disillusionment.鈥
Impact on education
The study鈥檚 findings come at a time when Australia is facing a critical teacher shortage. According to recent data from the , up to 30% of teachers are considering leaving the profession before retirement age. The results shown in the paper add new urgency to these concerns, showing that poor mental health聽鈥 particularly depression聽鈥 is a significant predictor of turnover intentions.
鈥淭his research provides clear evidence that improving teachers鈥 working conditions is not just beneficial聽鈥 it鈥檚 essential,鈥 said Dr Granziera. 鈥淚f we want to retain skilled educators and ensure quality education for all students, we must address the root causes of teacher stress and mental health decline.鈥
The study also highlighted disparities based on location, with teachers in rural and remote areas reporting higher levels of depressive symptoms. Female teachers were also more likely to report depressive symptoms and turnover intentions, reflecting broader trends in occupational mental health.
What needs to change
In response to these findings, the research team is calling for a multi-pronged approach to support teacher wellbeing, including:
- Policy reforms聽to reduce non-essential workload and streamline administrative processes
- School-level monitoring聽of teacher wellbeing and workload
- Investment in digital mental health programs聽tailored for educators, allowing flexible, self-paced support
- System-wide interventions聽to support teacher retention and reduce burnout.
The study took place between October 2022 and May 2024, with recruitment via the Black Dog Institute website and social media channels using targeted social media outreach and teacher-specific platforms.
鈥淭his is one of the largest and most comprehensive studies of teacher mental health in Australia,鈥 said Dr Granziera. 鈥淚t provides a clear and urgent message: our teachers are struggling, and they need support.鈥
The implications of these findings extend beyond the classroom. Poor teacher mental health has been linked to lower student achievement, reduced classroom quality, and diminished student wellbeing.
鈥淭eachers鈥 mental health is intricately related to students鈥 outcomes, both in terms of students鈥 mental health themselves, but also students鈥 academic achievement,鈥 says Dr Granziera.
鈥淚t鈥檚 clear improving teacher wellbeing should be a priority of policy makers not just for teachers but for our education system as a whole.鈥
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