World Mental Health Day Ideas for Administrators and Educators

The World Health Organization's World Mental Health Day aims to promote awareness and understanding of mental health issues at scale. Recognized every October 10th, this important day is a great time to encourage educators to care for their own wellbeing and that of their colleagues. Taking part in World Mental Health Day can be a fantastic opportunity for school leaders to kick-start or further develop conversations about mental health and highlight the importance of teacher and support staff wellbeing. We say 'kick-start' because of the importance of promoting mental health awareness throughout the entire school year.

Why focus on mental health?

The importance of good mental health can be seen in the World Health Organization's concept of mental health:

"It is an integral component of health and wellbeing that underpins our individual and collective abilities to make decisions, build relationships and shape the world we live in. Mental health is a basic human right."

Here are some more school-specific reasons for focusing on mental health:

• The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) shares that 1 in 5 people over the age of 18 in America experience a mental health problem of some kind each year. 1 in 20 US adults faces a serious mental illness each year.
• According to the State of the American Teacher survey, 58% of educators say that their work is often or always stressful, which can be a catalyst for poor wellbeing.
• According to NAMI, more than 50% of adults who struggle with mental health issues do not receive treatment.
• American teachers work an average of 14 hours each week outside of the school day, which leaves them less free time than other professionals have to relax and take part in activities that support good mental health.
• A recent Gallup survey reveals that mental health problems cost the US economy almost $48 billion each year — focusing on the mental health of school staff can result in fewer sick days and may boost productivity by 12%.

World Mental Health Awareness Day

World Mental Health Awareness Day is a good time to think about the key mental health issues that affect educators. Among the most important for school leaders to address are anxiety and depression. Most teachers will experience periods of either anxiousness or low moods during their careers. In some cases, these feeling will pass quickly. For example, there are many times when mild or even severe anxiety may be nothing worrisome — job interviews and public speaking immediately spring to mind as familiar anxiety-inducing events.

However, anxiety and depression become problematic when they have a significant impact on someone's day-to-day life or when they are symptoms of another mental health condition. People who constantly feel anxious may be diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). School administrators should be particularly vigilant about anxiety, which is a common side effect of stressful work days. In other circumstances, anxiety can be an indication of conditions such as:

• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Panic disorder
• Social anxiety disorder (social phobia)
• Depression
• Other phobias (such as claustrophobia and agoraphobia) 

6 actionable tips for promoting wellness

Here are six tips for promoting education staff wellbeing during this year's World Mental Health Day and beyond:

1. Reiterate the school's commitment to staff wellbeing

Mental Health Awareness Week provides an excellent opportunity to emphasize that your school is dedicated to creating a mentally healthy workplace. This can be done through standard communication channels and in staff meetings. Stating tangible examples of how the school is improving staff wellbeing can prevent the message from becoming too abstract or coming across as lip service.

2. Develop a mental health resource center for staff

Create a central location where employees can access information and resources on mental health issues should they need it. A digital resource center facilitates easy access to resources.  The Welbee Toolkit contains dedicated resources for supporting employee mental health in schools — and we are delighted to offer free access to a selection of useful resource to all school staff. Sign up for your free access today. 

3. Provide training and guidance for department heads and supervisors

Many people don't inform their colleagues of their struggles with mental health due to things such as shame and fear of discrimination. Educating department heads on how to best handle mental health among staff can go a long way toward removing these anxieties and improving educator wellbeing. For example, your department heads could be given dedicated time to complete the Mental Health Awareness for Leaders interactive course in the Welbee toolkit.

4. Host mental health awareness workshops

Including mental health training as part of continued professional development can help to ensure that it remains a priority on a long-term basis. Sessions that provide practical strategies can be especially valuable in helping staff manage their stress levels. Alongside running workshops, you could encourage staff to access the mental health resources within the Welbee Toolkit, including the stress management course, mental health awareness course for staff, and mental health focused bite-sized learning.

5. Measure and monitor staff wellbeing

Conducting surveys that help gauge the mental health and wellbeing of staff can deliver insight into how employees are feeling. School leaders can then use this data to effect positive change by using it to guide policies and decisions. Conducting regular assessments enables you to evaluate the impact of changes and helps to keep staff wellbeing a priority.

6. Promote open dialogues about mental health

Fostering a culture of open discussion around mental health can help to reduce the stigma that still surrounds it. It also helps ensure that mental health awareness isn't confined to just one day. Authentic exchanges about people's experiences can be a powerful way to empower others to take charge of their wellbeing. Oftentimes, having these types of conversations come from people in positions of authority helps normalize them in the workplace. By initiating and facilitating these conversations, school leaders can signal that it's not only acceptable but encouraged to discuss mental health openly. This can lead to a more understanding, empathetic, and resilient work environment where educators and school staff feel safe to express their needs and seek support.