Ei-iE

Health and well-being hub Education International’s resource center

Caring for educators, caring for our communities

Welcome to the Education International hub dedicated to supporting the health and well-being of teachers and education support personnel (ESP) around the world. Developed in partnership with MGEN, this hub reflects our collective commitment to place education workers’ health and well-being at the centre of the global education agenda, as outlined in our 10th World Congress resolution “ Teacher and ESP well-being and mental health: vital for quality education”.

Whether you are looking for good practices, strategies, or inspiration, this hub is designed to empower unions and education communities to foster healthier, more supportive environments for teachers and education support personnel worldwide.

Share your knowledge

This hub is intended as a tool for sharing knowledge, experiences, and resources. EI member organisations are invited to contribute by sharing the resources they have developed on the health and well-being of education personnel.

You can submit your resources by filling in the form accessible through the link below:

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Showing All 203 Resources

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Why Latin American teachers are fleeing the classrooms

Opinion/commentary

The video addresses the causes of chronic exhaustion affecting teachers in the region: administrative overload, precarious salary conditions, lack of resources, school violence, external pressures, among others. Through testimonies from teachers in different countries, interviews with specialists, and data reflecting the magnitude of the problem, it explores how this phenomenon not only jeopardizes the quality of education but also the sustainability of the educational system.

Teachers at the limit: The most mistreated profession in Latin America

Opinion/commentary

The article is based on the documentary of the Deutsche Welle (DW), "Why Latin American Teachers Are Fleeing the Classrooms." It discusses the severe challenges faced by teachers in Latin America, including physical and verbal aggression, chronic stress, and lack of family support. It highlights the increasing teacher attrition rates due to these issues, exacerbated by overcrowded classrooms and insufficient salaries. The article emphasizes the urgent need for systemic changes to support teachers, such as better working conditions, emotional training, and stronger collaboration between families and schools. The article includes a link to the documentary.

Quality education: the key to prosperity and well-being

Policy briefs and Policies

The chapter 2 of this EI briefing to the International Summit of the Teaching Profession 2025 verses about the positive correlation between teacher well-being and student academic achievement, as well as their social, emotional, and cognitive development. The brief identifies several key factors affecting teacher well-being, including employment status, remuneration, working conditions, professional autonomy, and occupational safety and health. It calls for comprehensive policies that address these aspects holistically, recognizing that improving teacher well-being is essential for fostering inclusive and supportive learning environments.

Publisher
Education International (EI)
Year of publication
2025
Topics
Cross-cutting resource
Available in
English
Categories of staff
Teachers Education support personnel School leaders
Resource type
Downloadable file

Let’s fight suffering: Psychological distress

The document addresses the impact of psychosocial risks in the workplace on mental health. It explains how factors such as work overload, lack of support, job insecurity, and harassment can lead to psychological distress, including anxiety, depression, and burnout. The guide outlines the physical, mental, and emotional consequences for workers and organizations, and proposes a three-level prevention strategy: eliminating risks at the source, equipping workers to manage stress, and repairing the effects through support programs. It also highlights legal rights and recourses available to workers under Quebec labor laws.

Incident report

The document is a practical guide designed to support workplace health and safety by documenting incidents and accidents. It outlines the legal obligations of employers, first aid responders, and health and safety committees to maintain event registers, even for near misses. The guide emphasizes the importance of confidentiality, provides clear procedures for responding to workplace accidents, and details the rights of workers under Quebec’s occupational health and safety laws. It also includes definitions and examples to help distinguish between types of workplace incidents and injuries.

Acting together – Intimate partner violence is also our concern

The document is a guide aimed at understanding, preventing, and addressing intimate partner violence (IPV) in both personal and professional contexts. It explores the nature, forms, and consequences of IPV, highlights the specific challenges faced by marginalized groups, and emphasizes the role of workplaces, unions, and employers in supporting victims and intervening with perpetrators. The guide provides practical tools, legal frameworks, model policies, and resources to foster safer environments and promote collective responsibility in combating IPV across society.

Ensuring a needs-based work-life balance for all: How adequate flexible working conditions can support intergenerational solidarity and the empowerment of women

The page presents the European Economic and Social Committee's (EESC) opinion on ensuring a needs-based work-life balance for all. It highlights the importance of adapting work-life balance strategies to address shifting demographics, new forms of work, and rising care demands. The EESC emphasizes the need for affordable, accessible, high-quality services that benefit workers, families, companies, and public authorities. It also stresses the importance of supporting care work and financial security for families and workers, viewing these as investments in society and the economy. The opinion calls for the assessment of work-life balance policies in EU companies and highlights the role of social dialogue in achieving this objective.

The resource can be downloaded in all available languages on the EESC website.

Occupational health care and early support

This "Työterveyshuolto ja varhainen tuki" guide of the Finnish union OAJ explains how occupational health care and early support play a vital role in maintaining and restoring work ability in the education sector. It outlines the responsibilities of employers to ensure equal access to preventive health services, monitor employee well-being, and initiate early support discussions when challenges arise. The process includes workplace assessments, health evaluations, and collaborative negotiations involving employees, supervisors, and occupational health professionals. The goal is to identify issues early, adapt work conditions if needed, and support educators in continuing their professional roles effectively and safely.

Workload

"Työkuormitus" explores how workload affects the well-being and performance of professionals in the education sector. It highlights that excessive or insufficient workload can harm motivation, health, and job quality. Factors contributing to strain include work demands, digitalisation, student behavior, poor planning, lack of support, and environmental issues. The guide emphasizes the employer’s responsibility to ensure safe and balanced working conditions and encourages open dialogue within the work community.

Wellbeing in school: Methodological guide

Guides

The guide is a methodological resource that aims to support educators in creating safe, inclusive, and emotionally supportive school environments. The guide provides practical strategies for promoting student and teacher well-being, including mental health awareness and career guidance. Over 2,000 teachers have participated in training sessions based on this guide, which continues to be implemented both in-person and online across the country.

Using the hierarchy of controls to prevent gun violence in education settings

Guides

The NEA guide introduces a structured, evidence-based framework to help schools address gun violence as a workplace hazard. Adapted from occupational health practices, the hierarchy includes five levels of intervention - elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls, and personal protective equipment - prioritizing the most effective strategies first. The guide emphasizes that any measures taken must not compromise trauma-informed, culturally competent education or rely solely on "hardening" schools.

School gun violence prevention and response guide

Guides

This guide is a four-part resource designed to help education personel, school staff, and community leaders address the growing crisis of gun violence in educational settings. It covers strategies for prevention, preparation, response, and recovery, emphasizing trauma-informed practices, mental health support, and policy advocacy. The guide aims to foster safer school environments by equipping stakeholders with actionable checklists, insights into warning signs, and tools for healing after incidents, all while advocating for systemic change to protect students and workers.