{
  "id": 14518486,
  "title": "School teachers are burning out at alarming rates. How can we help keep them happy in their jobs?",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/14/school-teachers-are-burning-out-at-alarming-rates-how-can-we-help",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-14T18:57:16.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Conversation AU",
    "slug": "the-conversation-au",
    "url": "https://theconversation.com/school-teachers-are-burning-out-at-alarming-rates-how-can-we-help-keep-them-happy-in-their-jobs-293813"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "More than a third of Australian teachers plan to leave their profession before retirement, while a third remain uncertain about their career paths. High stress and burnout are primary reasons behind teacher turnover. A 2025 Australian study found that 90% of teachers reported severe levels of stress, and symptoms of depression and anxiety were more than double the national average.\n\nHigh levels of distress and turnover not only impact teachers but also disrupt student learning and put additional pressure on school systems, especially in disadvantaged communities. However, teachers with higher wellbeing tend to form stronger relationships with students and achieve better outcomes in the classroom. Therefore, supporting teachers' wellbeing is essential for retaining them and promoting high-quality teaching and learning.\n\nOur research focuses on positive psychology interventions, which aim to help teachers stay well, motivated, and fulfilled in their work despite the pressures they face. These interventions can include mindfulness, resilience training, social-emotional learning (focused on emotional skills and empathy), gratitude practices, or a combination of these approaches.\n\nOur scoping review analyzed 247 studies spanning 25 years and 42 countries, including the United States, China, England, Australia, and Canada. The most effective approaches for improving teacher wellbeing and reducing stress and burnout were socio-emotional learning, mindfulness-based approaches, and combined wellbeing strategies.\n\nMindfulness-based approaches, such as developing self-awareness, attention to the present moment, and a non-judgmental attitude towards thoughts and emotions, were consistently associated with improvements in wellbeing and reduced stress. Combined wellbeing approaches that target various aspects of teachers' wellbeing, including emotions, relationships, sense of purpose, and professional growth, also showed positive results.\n\nThe findings suggest that these interventions aim to strengthen self-regulation skills, boost teacher self-efficacy (belief in their teaching abilities), and foster positive relationships with students and colleagues to promote wellbeing and resilience. However, the studies reviewed had varying designs and often relied on short-term, self-reported outcomes, highlighting the need for more rigorous research on the long-term effectiveness of these strategies.\n\nThree practical messages emerge from our findings:\n\n1. Mindfulness matters: Mindfulness is about how we pay attention and relate to our thoughts and emotions. Teachers can benefit from developing brief, informal mindfulness practices during their daily routines, such as pausing before frustration or stress escalates during a classroom interaction.\n\n2. Relationships matter: Positive relationships with colleagues and students are crucial for teacher wellbeing. Strengthening relationships can involve improving communication and connection skills, such as active listening, perspective-taking, and classroom management strategies. Schools can also create spaces for teachers to openly discuss their challenges and work collaboratively to find solutions, fostering a sense of belonging and support.\n\n3. Working conditions matter: Teacher wellbeing is not separate from the broader context of their work environment. Supporting teachers means addressing realistic expectations, reducing excessive workloads, and fostering a school culture that prioritizes staff wellbeing.",
  "summary": "Supporting teacher wellbeing means more than stepping in once they are already overwhelmed and ready to leave the profession.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Daily NK",
        "title": "Hamhung teachers ordered to wear skirts during School Support Month",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/14/hamhung-teachers-ordered-to-wear-skirts-during-school-support-month",
        "published": "2026-10-14T20:20:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}